Long-term care facility
under construction
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski
SASKATOON — The provincial
corporation that owns and operates nine Catholic health care facilities
on behalf of the bishops of Saskatchewan has undertaken the construction
of an innovative 100-bed long-term care facility in Saskatoon.
The Catholic Health Ministry
of Saskatchewan (CHMS) is proceeding with the project in the city’s
southeast Stonebridge neighbourhood to provide Level 3 and 4 care, said
CHMS president and CEO Scott Irwin.
As with other Catholic health
care facilities that the organization owns in Saskatchewan, CHMS created
a wholly owned subsidiary, Amicus Health Care Inc., to govern and operate
the new long-term care facility to be known as Samaritan Place. Having
secured financing, Amicus will also oversee construction, which will
take an estimated 18 months.
“It has moved very
quickly,” said Irwin, describing how the project began when the
CHMS board examined unmet needs in the community and recognized the
growing need for long-term care as the population ages.
“The board put a proposal
together and sent it to the provincial government,” Irwin explained,
saying CHMS offered to build the facility wherever the ministry of health
wished.
Once Saskatoon was identified
as the location, CHMS began working with the Saskatoon Health Region.
Amicus chose a local construction
company to proceed with construction, Irwin said. “We had a window
of opportunity to lock in costs and proceed immediately.”
“Saskatchewan health
care facilities are providing quality care for seniors,” said
CHMS chair Paul Ellis. “However, we recognize that long-term care
capacity for seniors in certain parts of our province is lacking and
needs to be increased. Many Saskatchewan seniors who require long-term
care are currently being cared for in hospitals and taking up space
that could be used for urgent hospital patients, or are being cared
for by family members, or in the worst cases, not at all, and our mission
is to help address these issues.”
“This is not just about
bed numbers, it’s about a philosophy of care,” Irwin said,
adding that Samaritan Place will implement a number of innovations designed
to provide holistic care that respects the dignity of each resident,
and help residents maintain family and community ties.
Twenty units in Samaritan
House will permit a caregiver and the person needing care to stay together
— this might be a husband and wife, siblings, or a parent and
adult-child, described Irwin. Another 24 units will be designated to
care for those suffering dementia.
“Ultimately, our approach
will provide a continuum of care through the aging process and provide
individuals with choice while enabling them to remain in a community
setting as they age,” said Ellis, stressing that Catholic health
care facilities strive to provide the best in compassionate, holistic
health care, emphasizing innovation, quality and excellence, while being
respectful of the culture, language and needs of the sick and suffering.
Facilities operated by CHMS in the province include St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville, Radville Marian Health centre in Radville, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan, St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foyer d’Youville in Gravelbourg, St. Anthony’s Hospital in Esterhazy, Foyer St. Joseph Nursing Home in Ponteix, Providence Place for Holistic Care in Moose Jaw and St. Ann’s Senior Citizens’ Village in Saskatoon.
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