75 new residential care beds for seniors open in Surrey
Retirement community offers a variety of housing and a mix of care options for elderly to age in one place
Elim Village, in conjunction with Fraser Health Authority, has opened Harrison West, a publicly-funded residential care home for seniors in Surrey.
The building is Elim's second residential care facility.
"It was in response to a request that Fraser Health put out a couple of years ago," said Elim Village executive director Ron Pike.
"We've constructed 75 new residential care beds, and we've also added some amenity on the first floor including a small pharmacy and a doctor's office as well."
All of the beds are full.
The first resident moved into Harrison West in April.
At its official opening, Fraser Health president and CEO Michael Marchbank said, "As our population ages and grows, we need to continue to invest in healthcare resources in the community."
"Harrison West adds new residential care beds to a campus of care that allows our residents to age in place."
Campus care for seniors
The campus care model combines all three levels of care — independent living, assisted living and continuing care — in a single setting.
"[Combining them] on one site allows for families and particularly spouses to stay together on the property, despite different care needs," said Pike.
"I think it gives residents generally a feeling of safety and security knowing that if care needs arise they can be taken care of."
Elim Village offers 250 independent units, 109 assisted living spots and now, 193 residential care beds at its 10-hectare site.
Campus care facilities are common in the United States.
In Canada, there are a few in B.C. and in Ontario.