Points West Living Red Deer, the city’s newest supportive-living facility, will start welcoming residents in July.
The $30.5-million project at 6950 Taylor Drive has five stories with 138 suites that include 44 units at supportive living level four (one level below long-term care which is the highest care level for seniors) and 69 units at supportive living level four dementia care.
All 25 suites for independent supportive living, one or two-bedrooms with full kitchens, are located on the fifth floor.
“We’re definitely excited to be in Red Deer. We’re looking to take possession of the building on July 4 and start moving residents in during the first week of August,” said Doug Mills, Points West Living CEO on Monday.
He said independent supportive living residents will move in first, followed by level four residents starting in mid-August. Level four residents are assessed by Alberta Health Services and will come from the community, other facilities and patients waiting in acute care beds.
Construction began in May 2014 after Points West Living received a $5.5 million Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) grant to build 60 continuing care beds.
“We always knew there was lots of demand. The initial grant was for 60 units. We always intended on building 82 units and went through a request for proposal process to get those additional units approved. Then there was serious issue with demand and beds in Red Deer we were contracted for more.”
He said construction took about four months longer when one of the floors was converted for level four residents. Elevator construction and the stairwell also took longer in the winter.
“To me it’s taken a bit too long, but it’s great to be near the finish line,” Mills said.
Points West Living is the first large seniors’ supportive living facility to be built in Red Deer’s north end and that’s a big benefit to the growing city, he said.
“We decided to do the five stories on Taylor. Accessing land isn’t the easiest in Red Deer.”
Mills said senior’s care has evolved over the years.
“It used to be auxiliary hospitals, than there was nursing homes. The concept of supportive living, it’s more community-based, less facility-based.”
The facility will have 120 staff and next week interviews will begin for licensed practical nurses and health care aides.
He said registered nurses will be on-call by phone, and will provide programming and education on site. When required, RNs will also visit residents to provide home care.
Lotsa ‘Tots Child Care will lease space on site. Another commercial space has yet to be leased.
A grand opening and open house for Points West Living Red Deer will be held in the future.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com