The Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC) says a long term care home promised in 2020 is still in the cards for Chatham with construction set to start later this year.
A ministry spokesperson told CKNewsToday the St. Angela’s Meadow Care Centre is still going through the review process, but shovels should be in the ground soon.
"The Ministry is currently undertaking its review process and construction is expected to start in Fall 2022," said the ministry spokesperson. "Ontario is fixing long-term care so that every resident experiences the best possible quality of life, supported by safe, high-quality care."
The new home will be built on the corner of Keil Trail North and McNaughton Avenue West next to St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge.
St. Angela's will be a new 160-bed building as part of a campus of care in Chatham announced in November of 2020. Ninety-nine seniors at the outdated Meadow Park on Sandys Street will be moving to the new facility when it's ready.
The administrator at Meadow Park in Chatham Anne-Marie Rumble said the pandemic delayed the process and there are a couple of other homes in the company ahead of the new Chatham facility. Rumble also said the provincial election will slow down the process because there won't be much activity from May until September.
St. Angela's Meadow Community Relations Coordinator Trevor Sykes said Jarlette Health Services, who owns the two homes, is currently awaiting approval of its plans by the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
"We are working closely with our partners, including provincial and municipal government, to ensure this long-term care home will meet the needs of the community for many years to come," said Sykes. "We look forward to providing the community with future updates when information becomes available."