Province adding over 350 long-term care beds, plus building three new homes in region

The Ford government is adding 364 new long-term care beds in Waterloo Region.

In addition to that, 84 beds are being upgraded and three new long-term care homes will be built in the area.

Minister of Long-term Care, Rod Phillips, made the announcement in Kitchener on Thursday morning.

“When these projects are completed, three new long-term care homes in the Region of Waterloo will provide a safe, modern, comfortable place for residents to call home, near their family and friends.” Phillips said.

The new and upgraded beds will go in at the following locations:

• 12 new and 84 upgraded beds at Schlegel Villages’ The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener. This will expand a new building currently under construction. It will replace the existing home to provide a total of 288 long-term care beds for the community and is expected to open by Spring 2023;
• 192 new beds at a brand new home in Cambridge operated by peopleCare, with construction expected to start by Spring 2023; and
• 160 new beds at a brand new home in St. Jacobs operated by peopleCare, with construction expected to start by Spring 2023.

The province says Thursday's announcement brings the total number of local long-term care beds in development or under construction to 888 new, along with 597 upgraded beds.

The Ford government has committed over $6 billion to build more than 30,000 net new beds and 28,000 upgraded ones across the province by 2028.