The addition of 90 publicly funded long-term care beds for Vernon is great news for people in their 90s, 80s, 70s, even 60s.
The expansion of the Creekside Landing Community Campus on Okanagan Landing Road in Vernon will serve more options. The new facility is slated to open Tuesday, Feb. 20, and admissions will continue into April. Individuals from the community and acute-care hospitals will be admitted during this period.
Premier David Eby and provincial health minister Adrian Dix were in Vernon to make a trio of health-related announcements Feb. 2, including the Creekside completion.
“People in Vernon and around B.C. deserve good health care at every stage of life and that’s why we’re providing high-quality long-term care,” said Eby. “This expansion adds more beds in a comfortable, home-like setting. Seniors deserve to age with dignity by receiving the care they need in the city they know and love. These beds also help take pressure off hospital beds in the community.”
The new addition to the Creekside Landing long-term care home is called Osprey Court. It includes the social and recreational spaces found in a typical home, such as a living room, dining room and activity space, and other amenities, such as a library, hair salon, wellness centre and a reflection room.
Seniors are supported through a dedicated campus of care, allowing one partner to live independently in the suites while their significant other receives assistance in the long-term care setting.
The addition of these new beds brings the total of publicly funded long-term care beds at Creekside Landing to 160.
“As people get older, they want to feel assured that they can access the essential-care services they need to stay healthy, active and safe in their community,” said Dix. “That is why our government is expanding long-term care throughout the province, including the Vernon area. By continuously investing in and improving long-term care facilities, we are securing a future where older adults in our province can age with dignity, counting on reliable care near their loved ones.”
Creekside Landing has provided a safe home for seniors with dementia, major physical challenges and other health issues in Vernon since 2008. Its expansion is marked by the addition of these crucial beds, enhancing its offerings in long-term care, assisted living and independent-living services.
The latest three-storey expansion will have 90 publicly funded and six private beds for long-term care. The expansion incorporates practice-leading design standards, showcasing a contemporary design that creates a warm and compassionate atmosphere.
Residents can enjoy a large garden with a bridge over Vernon Creek and secure walkways to enjoy the outdoors and nature.
“Interior Health is committed to supporting seniors with the services they rely on as their needs change,” said Diane Shendruk, vice-president, Clinical Operations, Interior Health North. “This is an important investment for individuals in Vernon and the surrounding area who will benefit from the level of support available in care homes like Creekside Landing.”
The inclusion of these long-term care beds in Vernon is part of the government’s investment plan to create a total 495 new long-term care beds within the Interior Health region to meet the needs of the growing seniors’ population. The remaining 405 beds are planned for Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson and Penticton.
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