Rimoka Housing Foundation chairman Joe Anglin set a six-month deadline last December to pull together a business plan and proposal for a badly needed seniors facility in the community.
The finishing touches were to be put on the plan this weekend to create a facility that will provide about 100 seniors with a home where they can live, even as their care needs increase.
“The need is great,” said Anglin, of the age-in-place facility that would likely cost $14 to $16 million.
Already, the foundation sometimes has to move some seniors out of the community because there are not enough spaces available to give them the care they need. The waiting list for spaces lingers in the double digits.
“When we send people out of the community — people born and raised in the community (and) this is their home — the stress is just catastrophic for many of them.
“We know this, and it hurts us to have to do this.”
If the project goes ahead, it would not only meet the needs of current seniors, it would provide enough spaces to serve the area for three decades in the future, he said.
Provincial funding will be necessary, as well as financial contributions from the Town of Rimbey and neighbouring Ponoka County.
Rimbey town council has already expressed its willingness to sell 8.6 acres for $200,000 north of the Rimbey Christian School. While the deal isn’t finalized, Anglin, who is also a town councillor, said the show of support was important.
“What we want to do is get land to do the things we need to do so we can go to the ministry and get the money for the project we want to build.”
A date to present the proposal has not been set. Anglin would like to see a government show of support this year to allow construction to start next spring. It would take a year or so to build.
Anglin is confident that the government will see the value in the project, which has much support from the community and area municipalities.
Rimoka manages seniors housing in Rimbey, Ponoka and Ponoka County.
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“I’m optimistic because the need is there. The province is smart enough to realize when you have need like this you have to act.
“It’s a matter of finding out what numbers work well for the community, what numbers work well for the province, and matching those up.”