New Long-Term Care Home Opens In Comox Valley

Seniors in the Comox Valley will soon have access to new long-term care homes as residents begin moving into Providence Living at The Views on Monday.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says as the population of B.C. ages rapidly, the government is dedicated to ensuring seniors are well supported within their communities.

He says seniors, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, can thrive in a healthy, supportive and safe environment.

The new complex on Rodello Street in Comox is Canada’s first public, non-profit long-term care home based on the concepts of a dementia village: a small-scale community designed to promote a sense of belonging and purpose for residents through autonomy and community engagement.

Designed for seniors with and without dementia, as well as younger adults requiring long-term care, Providence Living at The Views is an inclusive long-term care home intended to help residents maintain their independence, social connections and desired personal routines.

Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard says the home will not only enhance the physical health of seniors, but will support every aspect of their well-being, including their mental health.

Located at the former site of St. Joseph’s General Hospital, the 156-resident home will be organized into 13 households, which include a shared kitchen, laundry room, dining room and living room.

Each household will accommodate 12 residents.

Residents will be able to take part in regular household activities, such as cooking and gardening, and will have access to an outdoor courtyard and community amenities.

Providence Living also worked with the K'ómoks First Nation to design a first-of-its-kind sacred gathering space intended for First Nations, Métis and Inuit staff, residents and families to honour their traditions.

The home will focus on a new care and staffing model called Home for Us. Care will shift from the traditional model of care to a new social/relational model of care that integrates a person-centred approach.

The care model will move from scheduled routines to flexible routines where the pace and rhythms of the day are determined by the household members. This ensures residents have control over their routines from day to day.

In February 2020, Island Health signed a project development agreement with Providence Living to redevelop a care community to replace The

Views through joint funding from the Province, Island Health, St. Paul’s Foundation and the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation.

For details, visit Government of British Columbia.