Province aims to increase access to LTC in London with 608 new beds
peopleCare building new 160-bed residence
Monday September 15, 2008 -- Natalie Miller
People waiting in hospital beds for more permanent homes will have new living options with the creation of 608 new long-term care beds in the London-Middlesex area.

It will take some time, but one long-term care operator hopes it will help relieve the pressure facing hospitals in southwestern Ontario. While patients occupying hospital beds when they're better suited elsewhere is a problem province-wide, the issue has received recent media attention in London where hospitals are particularly stretched.

In response, peopleCare is building a new 160-bed long-term care home, says Jill Knowlton, director of operations for the southwestern Ontario-based long-term care provider.

"The primary purpose is to relieve the pressure on acute-care hospitals in the London-Middlesex area," she says.

"It's directly in response to pressures on acute-care facilities and we're really working with the South West Local Health Integration Network and the (province) to begin to resolve the lack of long-term care space and the backlogs in hospitals."

peopleCare President and CEO Brent Gingerich says London residents currently have to wait between 12 and 24 months for placement in long-term care.

"That’s simply too much of a strain on the healthcare system, elderly patients and families. We are very pleased to offer a ‘continuum of care community’ to London through these two modern residences.”

Construction of peopleCare's fourth and largest long-term care home is in the initial stages. Situated in a residential area, the three-storey home is slated to open in the final quarter of 2009. The site will soon after also house a 100 unit assisted-living residence.

peopleCare is one of four operators awarded new beds in the London-Middlesex area.

At the end of August the province announced $45.6 million to develop the long-term care beds in London.

In the meantime, some patients have been moved to transitional beds at a complex continuing-care hospital in London, says Knowlton.

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PeopleCare breaks ground on new long-term care home