Alberta's two largest cities and surrounding communities will see new continuing care spaces in the next 18 months, as the province funds 11 'shovel-ready' projects.
Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon announced the province's $400-million investment through the new capacity stream of the continuing care capital program on Wednesday. The investment will fund 11 projects to build more than 1,100 continuing care spaces.
'These projects are for communities with the most need where current continuing care spaces aren't able to keep up with the growing seniors population,' Nixon said.
There are currently 865,000 seniors in Alberta. In less than 10 years, that number will surpass one million, according to Nixon. He said money is not a limiting factor when it comes to creating continuing care spaces, but construction times are an issue.
Nixon said his department will be announcing a 10-year plan shortly detailing how the province intends to build 15,000 more spaces and where.
The 1,100 new continuing care spaces are part of the 3,000 more continuing care spaces previously announced by the province. Nixon said those spaces will be live in the next 18 months.
The majority of the projects receiving funding will be in Edmonton and Calgary, along with some just outside of the largest cities, the Red Deer area and Wetaskiwin.
List of Funded Projects
- $63.3 million for the AgeCare Aspen project in Calgary
- $23.4 million for the Wing Kei Highland Park Expansion project in Calgary
- $14.4 million for the AgeCare Shawnee project in Calgary
- $29.4 million for the Optima Living: Hawthorne project in Cochrane
- $75.3 million for the Golden Age Meadow Continuing Care project in Edmonton
- $62.3 million for the Belle Rive Multi-Generational Housing project in Edmonton
- $19.5 million for the Beverly Heights Seniors Community Conversion project in Edmonton
- $45.9 million for the Salem Manor Society Continuing Care project in Leduc
- $40.5 million for the Evergreen Care Village project in Red Deer
- $4.4 million for the Optima Living: Hamlets at Red Deer Expansion project in Red Deer County
- $23.2 million for the Optima Living: Sagebrush project in Wetaskiwin
These projects are expected to be completed within the next 18 months, providing much-needed spaces for Alberta's growing senior population.
