Stouffville's largest long-term-care facility set to open its doors

Yorkreigon.com
July 28

Stouffville is set to get new residents and new jobs this summer.

The Mon Sheong Stouffville Long-Term Care Centre was officially unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 21 involving Premier Doug Ford. The new project is the town's largest long-term-care facility, with 320 new long-term-care beds and people expected to move in August.

The demand for long-term-care beds is at an all-time high, said Garth Low, president of Mon Sheong Foundation.

Within a short time of being added to the list of long-term-care centres, Low said the waiting list for the new facility reached 1,000 people.

“This shows just how urgently the community needs long-term-care services. Our staff members have worked tirelessly to create activities and menus that are suitable for all cultures,” he said.

The facility includes special features, such as each room and common areas having their own individual HVAC system for heating, cooling and ventilation. This will minimize the chances of cross-contamination and infection from airborne viruses.

There will also be an infrared temperature screening system at the home’s entrance and each floor, where everyone will have their temperature taken without having to stand still. With this, the facility can monitor health conditions and prevent the spread of illness more efficiently.

The new facility will also feature many innovations, such as robots to help with routine work.

“Our government continues to be hard at work delivering on our promise to add beds and improve the quality of care our seniors receive in long-term-care homes,” Premier Doug Ford said. “Our loved ones in long-term care deserve a comfortable, modern place to live near family and friends. The new Mon Sheong Stouffville Long-Term Care Centre ticks all those boxes.”

Back in 2018, Mon Sheong unveiled its 10-year development plan on senior care services.

In April of the same year, the Ontario government allocated 320 long-term-care bed licences to Mon Sheong, and the Stouffville location was born.

This facility is the first long-term-care centre to be completed and is 18 months ahead of schedule. In March, the Ontario government allocated another 768 bed licences to Mon Sheong to build three new long-term-care centres across the GTA.

“To build a dream home is an arduous process; we spent a lot of time designing the facility to be a home and not an institution. We met many challenges during the pandemic, but we are very happy that the facility was completed in less than three years,” said Tim Kwan, chair of Mon Sheong Foundation.

Stouffville isn’t the only place Mon Sheong is expanding its coverage.

The foundation just announced plans to build a new senior care campus in Markham. The 160-bed long-term-care facility will be located at 36 Apple Creek Blvd., north of the Highway 7 and Woodbine Avenue intersection. This location will be Mon Sheong’s first long-term-care facility in Markham. The campus will also consist of approximate 250 senior apartments and a personal support worker training centre.

Stephanie Wong, CEO of Mon Sheong, said the Foundation has received full support from the provincial and municipal government to bring more senior care services to those in need during the year-long pandemic. “We raised the proposal to have the new facility in Markham by October last year. The first challenge is getting the right zoning for the land we planned to build the campus.”

The land issue has was fast tracked by a Minister's zoning order (MZO) with full support from Markham council.

Mon Sheong currently operates 457 beds in three long-term-care facilities with a wait-list of over 6,500 people. That is an average of 14 people waiting for one bed. The number has tripled within 10 years. On average, wait times are between five to seven years.