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Construction under way for new seniors’ housing
Thanks to a partnership between Golden Life Management, Interior Health, and Columbia Basin Trust expanded housing options for Cranbrook and area seniors is a step closer to reality.
Construction of the new Kootenay Street Village is well under way with an expected opening in summer 2019.
The new 97 unit Village will be built and operated by Golden Life Management and includes 30 new publicly-funded residential care beds through Interior Health and six private-pay residential beds.
Our government is committed to improving the quality of life for seniors, and making sure quality residential care is available for them when they need it is a key component of this work,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “The completion of these thirty beds will increase the number of publicly-funded permanent residential beds for Cranbrook and area seniors to a total of 176.”
“These additional residential care beds are great news for seniors and their families living in the Cranbrook area,” added Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Anne Kang. “This partnership will provide seniors in the area with more housing options to better meet their needs.”
“Interior Health’s priority is to support seniors to remain in their own homes as long as possible, but we know there comes a time when some seniors will need the 24/7 care offered in a residential care environment,” said IH Board Chair Dr. Doug Cochrane. “We identified a need for more residential care beds in Cranbrook and the start of construction is good news. IH continues to work with communities to meet the needs of their seniors.”
Kootenay Street Village will also be home to 61 new independent living units and a minimum of 20 will be subsidized for seniors with low incomes thanks to a partnership between Golden Life Management and Columbia Basin Trust.
“The Trust is excited to be part of this village in a unique way, as an investor and also by providing a grant to support subsidized housing for low income seniors,” said Johnny Strilaeff, Columbia Basin Trust President and CEO. “Our priority is to help ensure residents have access to housing that meets their needs, and we thank all partners involved for collaborating to move forward in this creative, effective way. Once built, this facility will have a positive impact on the lives of its residents.”
The Village’s design will allow Golden Life residents, team members, and community partners to work together to create a better resident experience.
“Kootenay Street Village is built on the vision of a senior’s wellness hub creating synergies and care enhancements at both Villages with a focus on resident experience and quality,” said Endre Lillejord, Golden Life’s Chief Executive Officer. “With funded residential care, independent living, and low income housing coupled with our new and innovative health and wellness programs, Kootenay Street Village will ensure Cranbrook seniors have access to high quality care, housing, and services both within and outside our Village.”
Golden Life Management also operates Joseph Creek Village in Cranbrook, which offers seniors 222 total units, including 100 publicly funded residential care beds, two private pay residential, 28 assisted living units and 92 independent living units.
The new Kootenay Street Village supports the Government of B.C.’s strategy to improve the quality of life for seniors in B.C. As part of this, the Ministry of Health is investing $75 million to expand respite care and adult day programs to support seniors and their caregivers; provided $1.4 million to support elder abuse awareness and prevention; and provided $2.7 million to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. to connect people affected by dementia to community supports and services. In addition, the Province recently launched a new primary health-care strategy focused on delivering faster, team-based care to all British Columbians.
Lead image: Artistic rendering of Kootenay Street Village. Submitted
Interior Health
