MORE HOUSING OPTIONS CREATED FOR VERNON SENIORS

VERNON – Federal, provincial, and community partners gathered today to celebrate a new $9.4-million assisted living development, as part of a campus of care for Vernon seniors.

“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing more available in British Columbia and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. “Seniors in Vernon will now have access to quality, affordable housing and the services that meet their specific needs, while remaining close to their families and friends in the community.”

Good Samaritan Heron Grove is a campus of care that provides assisted living apartments, life lease housing and a specialized cottage care model for persons requiring complex care. There are 38 assisted living suites that are funded through the Independent Living BC program and 75 residential care beds with operating funds provided by the Ministry of Health through Interior Health.

“These units provide more Vernon seniors with quality affordable housing that allows them live as independently as they are able, and to age in place,” said Tom Christensen, MLA for Okanagan-Vernon. “One advantage of a campus of care is that if housing needs change, residents can continue to live at Heron Grove, in the comfort of familiar surroundings.”

Assisted living units are self-contained apartments where residents receive hospitality and personal care services, such as meals, housekeeping and laundry, recreational opportunities, assistance with medications, mobility and other care needs, as well as a 24-hour response system. The apartments provide a middle option between living at home with support and residential care.

“We are improving the way in which we traditionally provide care to our seniors by offering more options to promote choice and independence,” said Alan Dolman, Interior Health board chair. “This new campus will allow seniors to age in place.”

“Vernon has a high population of seniors that call this area their home,” said City of Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert. “Good Samaritan Heron Grove addresses a key need for affordable, appropriate levels of care and housing in our community.”

“Good Samaritan Canada is proud to partner with the Province and Interior Health to offer this unique and exciting campus of care designed to support seniors in a warm and hospitable environment,” said Phil Gaudet, president and CEO of Good Samaritan Canada. “The opportunity to develop this multi-level campus of care for seniors in Vernon is a responsibility we take seriously and we are honoured that the community has entrusted us with helping seniors to live in their own community as independently as possible.”

These new units are part of the British Columbia government’s commitment to provide 5,000 net-new residential care beds, assisted living units, and supportive housing with home support units by the end of 2008. To date, 8,839 new and replacement beds and units have been built, including 3,411 net-new.

The Province of British Columbia is committed to providing more than 4,000 affordable assisted living apartments for B.C. seniors and persons with disabilities. To date, more than 3,900 have been allocated in communities across the province. The Province’s budget for shelters and affordable housing is nearly $360 million – more than triple what it was in 2001.

The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will contribute more than $130 million by 2010 towards affordable housing in this province. The provincial government provides a minimum of $34 million annually to subsidize the cost of units built under the Canada-BC Affordable Housing Agreement, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing options for British Columbians in greatest need.

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BACKGROUNDER

Good Samaritan Canada Heron Grove, at 4900-20th Street in Vernon, provides 38 one-bedroom units of assisted living for seniors, 15 life leases and two market rental assisted living units. The complete campus of care also includes six care cottages, with 75 complex care beds funded by Interior Health, on the property completing a campus of care. The three-storey wood-framed assisted living building opened to residents in April 2007.

Assisted living tenants pay 70 per cent of their after-tax income for their units and receive hospitality and personal care services, such as meals, housekeeping and laundry, recreational programs, assistance with medications, mobility and other care needs, and a 24-hour response system.

Partners and Funding
The capital cost of this project is $9.4 million, which includes the following contributions:

With operating costs which include:

Good Samaritan Canada
Good Samaritan Canada, a Lutheran social service organization, has more than 55 years experience in providing continuing care, assisted living and other specialized health-care services and facilities in an innovative and caring environment. It is one of the largest voluntary health care providers in Canada.

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Media contact:
Renee Schisler
BC Housing
604 439-4757
604 375-1235

Shelley Nicholl
Interior Health
250 862-9823
250 864-5567 (cell)

Sandy Scott
CMHC
604 737-4032

Joanne Dusterbeck
Vice-President of Communications
Good Samaritan Canada
780 431-3706