3 long-term-care homes to be built in Markham, Stouffville under provincial ‘fix’

Yorkregion.com
March 29, 2022

Ontario is planning to build three long-term-care homes in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville, which will provide 800 additional beds for older adults in need.

On March 18, the Ministry of Long-Term Care announced the new homes as part of the government’s $6.4 billion budget to create more than 30,000 net new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term-care beds across the province.

“Our government has a plan to fix long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe, and comfortable homes for our seniors,” Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra said.

The three homes -- Mon Sheong Markham, Mon Sheong LTC in Whitchurch-Stouffville and Lang Yi Markham -- are expected to provide cultural services for residents of the Chinese, Filipino and East Asian communities.

Construction is pegged to start between summer 2023 and summer 2024.

Mon Sheong’s new Markham Senior Care Campus continues to expand as its long-term-care bed licences grew from 160 to 192 to, finally, 320 care beds, making it the largest long-term-care centre in the city of Markham, said Tim Kwan, Chairman of Mon Sheong Foundation, during the announcement.

The Apple Creek facility, fast-tracked by an MZO (ministerial zoning order) backed by Markham council last year, will also consist of approximately 250 apartments for older adults and a personal support worker training centre

“This campus will make a significant impact in Markham,” said Kwan, noting an expected 120 per cent increase in older adults living in the city is expected by 2026, and a 300 per cent increase being projected for the entire region over the next two decades.

“These figures only heighten the urgent need for long-term care as Mon Sheong’s own wait-list for all four long-term care centres have over 7,500 people waiting. Mon Sheong hopes that these allocations will bring some relief to their burgeoning wait-list.”

The number has tripled within 10 years. On average, wait times are between five to seven years.

Mon Sheong Stouffville Long-Term Care Centre opened its doors in autumn of last year and has been steadily admitting residents since. The allocation of 224 beds will mean that this location will house 554 care beds for those in need.

It also marks the beginning of the first “campus of care” in Stouffville.

The Ontario government also announced it is providing up to $673 million this year to long-term care homes across the province to increase staffing levels, leading to more direct care for residents, which will increase the daily provincial average to three hours and 15 minutes, per resident per day, by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year.

This includes $6,357,888 for local long-term-care homes, including Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care (up to $1,744,272), Chartwell Woodhaven (up to $1,674,504) and Markhaven (up to $837,252) in Markham, as well as for Parkview Home (up to up to $1,116,336) and Bloomington Cove Care Community (up to $985,524) in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Direct care is hands-on care that includes personal care, such as help with eating, bathing and dressing, as well as other important tasks such as helping residents move and providing medication.

“This is part of our government’s plan to hire thousands of new staff over the next four years to ensure those living in long-term care get the high-quality care they need and deserve,” Calandra said.

There are now a total of 1,568 new and 32 upgraded long-term-care beds in development, under construction or completed in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville.