It’s been literally 13 years in the making, as, from the moment of his arrival as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arnprior Regional Health, Eric Hanna was made acutely aware of the pressing need in the community for an expansion of long-term care beds.
With today’s official ceremonies marking the completion of the new Grove Nursing Home that dream becomes reality, and Hanna is poised to retire.
Along the way a remarkable team came together- many of whom gathered under a big tent to reflect at today’s on-site event and share stories.
Hanna himself had one story that ties our tale together- the story of how it comes to be that each of the 96 residents of the new Grove will have their own memory box.
The Seniors Active Living Centre Men’s Shed went into mass production, and problem solved.
The new Grove Nursing Home has increased its long-term care capacity by 60 per cent, and is one of the first projects finished under a Provincial commitment to provide 36 thousand new or upgraded long term care spaces across Ontario.
That fact was recognized by Ontario’s Minister of Long Term Care, Rod Phillips in his remarks.
At the new Grove, design has considered dementia, and many age-friendly amenities have been incorporated to make the premises feel more like home.
One of the speakers, Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski, was a staunch ally of the new Grove campaign, as had been his father- at the time of the original Grove’s construction.
Resident move-in day is next Tuesday- but that adjacent 1981 structure may be again pressed into service- fully upgraded and renovated of course- as, back in March the Ford government announced an additional 32 long term care beds for the Grove, part of its commitment to massively increase long-term care capacity in Ontario by 2028.
