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Falher council supports GAP housing project
Rick Froese
Smoky River Express
Plans for a new assisted-living facility to serve the Smoky River region are being supported by the Town of Falher.
At its regular meeting Oct. 4, Falher council consented to submit a letter of support for the regional Golden Alternative Project (GAP) planned for McLennan by the Lakeview Pioneer Society which serves the region.
However, council is concerned the new facility will eliminate long-term care spaces at Sacred Heart Community Health Care Centre, operated by Peace Country Health.
“We support the project, providing it does not replace the long-term care at the hospital,” states Mayor Margaret Tardif, as council responded to a letter from the society seeking municipal support.
Councillor Philippe Dube immediately expressed his concern about long-term care.
“I’m against private long-term care,” says Dube, which got quick support from Mayor Tardif and Coun. Donna Buchinski.
“I don’t want to replace public long-term care with private,” says Dube, who admits the project is welcomed and valued in the region.
However, the society and developer plan to construct a new long-term facility for the hospital, along with the assisted-living facility.
“We plan to build a long-term care complex along with the assisted-living apartment complex,” said society president Chris Jones when contacted by the Express.
The two complexes, with 45 units in the long-term care assisted living complex – starting with 20 apartments – are planned to be developed by Integrated Life Care Incorporated of Edmonton with services and equipment provided by Peace Country Health, she says.
Estimated at $7 million, the facility is planned to be located between Sacred Heart Community Health Care Centre’s long-term care wing and the Kimiwan apartments, developed as a private facility by the Edmonton firm.
“This continuing-care facility – or assisted-living facility – will house a number of people who need some care with their daily needs as well as the long-term care patients which are now patients in the current long-term care facility,” Jones states in a letter to local municipalities.
It makes sense to build this facility and long-term care in the same building, although separated, but close to the hospital to provide adequate medical services, she adds.
The project has been proposed to partner with Peace Country Health Region to develop the new space for nursing beds and expand the project with the inclusion of private pay supportive housing units.
Currently, the proposal is being studied by health region administration.
“As we see it, this proposal will fit well with recent announcements from the provincial government to seek private/public partnerships for developing capital projects,” says Jones.
“This project will help solve the immediate and long-term senior housing shortage in the region.”
The society is waiting for the Peace Country Health board to give final approval for the health component of the facility.
The regional health board is currently reviewing its budget before making any final decisions and commitments, she says.
The facility will accommodate people ages 55 and over, serving Aboriginal, Francophone, and English residents.
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