The Vancouver Island Health Authority has announced the completion of a new long-term facility that is set to welcome residents starting July.
The building, located at 955 Hillside Ave, is called ‘The Summit’ and can accommodate 320 seniors.
According to a statement from Island Health, the new long-term care home will be used to relocate residents living Oak Bay Lodge and Mt. Tolmie care homes.
“The Summit care home will offer a campus of care that is flexible and responsive for seniors living with complex health issues and dementia,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix in a statement.
“Our goal is to ensure that residents and health-care workers are protected to the maximum extent possible and I am confident that the right precautions will be in place to move safely at this time.”
The Summit will replace the two aforementioned care homes and residents will start moving in on July 10, 2020.
It features 320 private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, bright common or visiting spaces, walking paths and several outdoor areas.
Each floor will have clusters of 16 to 24 residents, and the first floor will feature a salon, an adult day program, and a dialysis room so patients don’t have to travel to a hospital.
Construction of the massive project began in 2016 and Island Health originally planned to move residents into the facility in April.
However due to COVID-19, that move was postponed for the possibility that the site could be used as a field hospital for pandemic patients.
The building was constructed and is owned by the CRD and is being leased by Island Health for a period of 25 years.
The Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation has also committed to raising more than $500,000 for therapy equipment and adaptive tools, visiting area/patio furnishings and ongoing therapy program support, as well as gardens for residents and ongoing funding for the Adult Day Program.
