Construction of the seniors housing project Timberstone Mews is complete and residents could start moving in as early as July.
The main floor of the building, at 42 Timberstone Way, has 60 Alberta Health Services funded supportive living beds. Forty beds are at level 4 — the highest care level in supportive living but not as intensive as long-term care — and 20 beds are level 4 for dementia residents.
Second and third floors include 70 suites for independent living, with access to home care if required. The one or two-bedroom suites are suitable for couples or singles. Residents can either rent or select the life lease option.
Greg Christenson, president of Christenson Developments, said Timberstone Mews is not about providing a one size fits all housing solution for seniors, but making a variety of care options in one location.
“The whole building is designed for aging in place. We have eight-foot hallways, 11-foot stairwells, the firewalls. We also have upgraded sprinkler systems,” Christenson said on Tuesday.
He said having independent living and supportive living allow couples to live in the same building even if they need different levels of care. That isn’t always available in a single building, which forces couples to be apart.
The supportive living area has its own entrance and staff start training in May.
Christenson said he’s been told there are more than 60 seniors in Red Deer waiting for supportive living beds.
Construction of the $32-million seniors project began in April 2015. Christenson Development, of Edmonton, received a $3.2 million grant from the province to put towards the construction of the supportive living section of the building.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday. Officials scheduled to be in attendance were: Red Deer North MLA Kim Schreiner, Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce interim CEO Rick More, Golden Circle Resource Centre executive director Monica Morrison, and Alberta Seniors Communities & Housing Association vice-president James Nibourg.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com