The news keeps getting better for those looking for more long-term care options in Midwestern Ontario.
Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson making two stops in her riding on Thursday, one in Wingham and one in Goderich, to announce new money being invested into Braemar Retirement Centre and Maitland Manor.
When it comes to Braemar, the subject was one that was clearly close to Thompson's heart, as she fought back tears as she announced an investment by the provincial government to upgrade the facility located at the north end of Wingham on Josephine Street.
Braemar is being allocated 27 new spaces and 69 upgraded spaces, meaning Braemar will be transformed into a new 96-bed facility within the next couple of years.
The announcement is part of the province's $933 million investment into LTC spaces across the province, on top of $1.75 billion earmarked previously for the delivery of 30,000 spaces over the next ten years.
The $933 million will be put towards 80 homes across Ontario, including those in Huron-Bruce, with a construction funding subsidy, operational funding, and specialized funding over the life of the home.
In her address in front of Braemar on Thursday, Thompson described her own family members that have stayed at the same facility, saying the need for long term care spaces like Braemar "is going nowhere but up. This facility is important for many residents and with this significant investment, certainly they will be able to continue providing excellent care to those that need it".
Braemar Administrator Archie McGowan says the investment is big enough to allow him and his team, which he calls the "Dream Team", to continue providing top of the line care, saying "our team felt 96 beds was the highest we could go to keep up the same level of care, and continue to give a "home-type of atmosphere" that residents appreciate".
McGowan says the investment by the provincial government is timely, as the home's license was due to expire in five years. He now says "we'll be using this time to start the actual design process, and work with the Ministry of Health to make sure that we're getting all the approvals that we need, and make sure we're meeting all those standards. It is a bit of a process, but this is a monstrous first step in getting these beds and actually seeing this facility become a reality".
In addition to the Wingham announcement, Thompson also announced 69 new beds allocated to Maitland Manor in Goderich on Thursday, and 91 upgraded spaces.
Thompson joined by Braemar Administrator Archie McGowan and staff members at Braemar (Photo by Adam Bell)