HUNTSVILLE — Construction is underway at Fairvern, a long-term care home being redeveloped in Huntsville. This is part of the Ontario government’s $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
“Congratulations to The District Municipality of Muskoka on their ground-breaking for a brand-new home. Our government is fixing long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today’s ground-breaking is a significant milestone for Fairvern and the Muskoka region. When building is completed, 160 residents will have a new place to call home, near their family and friends.”
Once construction is completed, the new Fairvern home will be operated by The District Municipality of Muskoka and is expected to welcome its first residents in fall 2025. The home will provide 84 new and 76 upgraded beds in private, semi-private and basic rooms, for a total of 160 modern long-term care beds in Huntsville. The brand-new building will feature design improvements, including larger resident common areas and air conditioning throughout the home. The design is centred around ‘resident home areas’ to create more intimate and familiar living spaces for up to 27 residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms.
Once built, Fairvern proposes to offer specialized health care services while meeting other long-term care needs of the community. This upgraded home will help Ontario address the growing demand for long-term care, which has increased wait times for beds and contributed to hallway health care.
The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve, both now and in the future. The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.
Quick Facts
- The Ontario government is on track to build 30,000 much-needed new long-term care beds in the province by 2028 and is redeveloping older beds to modern design standards. Through a $6.4 billion investment, Ontario has 31,705 new and 28,648 upgraded beds in the planning, construction and opening stages of the development process. This will help increase overall bed capacity, address long-term care waitlists and hallway health care, and provide our seniors with the care they deserve.
- Building more modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors is part of the Government of Ontario’s Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021.
- The province is taking innovative steps to get long-term care homes built, including modernizing its funding model, selling unused lands with the requirement that long-term care homes be built on portions of the properties, and leveraging hospital-owned land to build urgently needed homes in large urban areas.
- The Ontario government is providing a supplemental increase to the construction funding subsidy to stimulate the start of construction by August 31, 2023 for more long-term care homes across the province, including Fairvern. Not-for-profit homes have the option to receive a portion of the funding as an up-front construction grant payable at the start of construction. The supplemental increase is part of the funding for long-term care home development.
- As of February 2023, more than 39,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. The median wait time is 130 days for applicants to be placed in long-term care.
Quotes
“Our government is making unprecedented investments into the health and long-term care sector across Parry Sound—Muskoka that are making meaningful improvements to people’s lives. I’m thrilled for the communities of Muskoka that will directly benefit from the redevelopment and expansion of Fairvern. This project is a reflection of our government’s commitment to ensuring the residents of Parry Sound—Muskoka have access to the health care services and facilities they deserve.”
– Graydon Smith
MPP for Parry Sound—Muskoka
“The District is proud to break ground today on a new residence that is designed on a social model, not an institutional model. By putting dignity and community at the centre of our approach to this project, we’re building not just a care facility, but a caring home for 160 local residents. I thank the Ontario government for this major investment in a compassionate Muskoka.”
– Jeff Lehman
Chair, The District Municipality of Muskoka
“Today is a celebration of the power of community and collaboration. This home is the result of the hard work and dedication of many passionate individuals and partners. This ceremony represents our commitment to our community and ensuring a bright future for the Town of Huntsville and all of Muskoka.”
– Nancy Alcock
Mayor, Town of Huntsville
“Breaking ground today represents a significant investment in our community, not only for our residents who will call Fairvern home, but also for our dedicated staff who will provide our community with the compassionate care it deserves. By creating an environment where residents can thrive and staff can grow and develop, this new home and will offer a supportive environment that recognizes and reminds them of the importance of their work.”
– Julie Stevens
Chief Administrative Officer, The District Municipality of Muskoka
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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