Future Markham long-term-care centre puts emphasis on infection prevention, control

Mon Sheong Foundation's new facility expected to be completed in 2026, making it the largest LTC in city

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 28, 2023
Scarlett Liu

Mon Sheong Foundation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the largest long-term-care (LTC) facility in Markham on Sept. 15. Anticipated to be ready for occupancy in 2026, this facility will provide 320 long-term-care beds and create 400 jobs when completed.

This new long-term-care centre, located at 30 Apple Creek Blvd. (formerly recognized as 8885 Woodbine Ave.) in Markham, has 11 stories. The design focus of this LTC remains primarily resident-centered, with a particular emphasis on infection prevention and control.

According to government statistics released in April, there are currently 40,000 people in Ontario awaiting long-term-care beds, with an average wait time of 123 days.

“There is a wait list of 8,000 people for the four LTC centres of Mon Sheong Foundation, and the average wait time is five to seven years,” states Tim Kwan, chair of Mon Sheong Foundation. “That’s why we have been actively pursuing the construction of new LTC facilities to meet the health-care needs of our local senior community.”

With the unstable situation of a global pandemic, Mon Sheong considers infection prevention and control remains the utmost importance in designing the new LTC centres.

“In addition to fundamental features like individual HVAC systems and real-time positioning systems in each resident's room, we also plan to provide a private washroom for every basic room in the new facility, which offers better infection prevention and control and privacy of residents,” reads the press release of Mon Sheong.

The senior population in Markham is projected to increase by 120 per cent by 2026, but, Garth Low, president of Mon Sheong Foundation, commented, “there is a severe shortage of personal support workers, making the training of skilled PSWs a top priority.”

Therefore, Mon Sheong will be establishing a PSW training centre in the Markham Senior Care Campus, where their new Markham LTC Centre is located, providing training and placement opportunities.