Dundas Manor gets the go-ahead for expansion

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Dundas Manor Long-Term Care Home is known as a home that inspires joy and happiness. So, it was only natural that we broke out in song when Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, came to Winchester last week. Dr. Fullerton announced that Dundas Manor’s application to re-develop its existing 98 long-term beds and add 30 new beds is officially approved. Everyone joined in the D-M-L-H song to the tune of YMCA!

“We all have a family member, a loved one or friend who has needed long-term care, and many of us will one day need it ourselves. We will all be touched by it in some way,” said Minister Fullerton. “Our government is working hard to build long-term care beds faster and more efficiently so our province’s most vulnerable can receive the care they need.”

“On behalf of the residents who call Dundas Manor home – and the staff, physicians, and volunteers who care for them – thank you to the Ministry for this long- awaited announcement,” noted Cholly Boland, CEO. “I also want to thank Rural Healthcare Integration (RHI) Board Chair Bill Smirle and the entire Dundas Manor Board for their tireless efforts in planning and advocating for this much-needed new home.”

“Bring on the bulldozers!” said Board Chair Bill Smirle. “This has been a long process and there is still much more to do. But today, we celebrate.”

Dundas Manor resident Joan Dunlop shared her excitement as well: “I speak on behalf of the residents of Dundas Manor who love this home and the people who live and work here. We have made the very best of an outdated physical structure, but we are very happy about today’s announcement. This will provide each resident with a better living environment, so we sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The new Dundas Manor will transform the look and feel of the residence to create a truly home-like environment where we can also welcome thirty additional residents. Preliminary designs are complete. The new home will improve quality of life with more accessible space, wider halls and larger windows. Outdated four-bed units will change to two residents per room. As well, the new home will address the need for greater individualized and resident-directed care.

“Congratulations to Dundas Manor! We applaud the government for this important investment to expand access to long term care in rural Ontario where it is desperately needed,” said Lisa Levin, CEO, AdvantAge Ontario. “These new and redeveloped beds will help local seniors stay in their own community – where they want to be – for as long as possible.”

The total cost of the new home is approximately $32 million. The WDMH Foundation has been chosen to be the fundraising partner for the new home. An estimated $11 million in community donations is required. Construction is expected to begin in late 2021.

“We are very much looking forward to working with
the community and the Dundas Manor team to raise the funds needed to make this long-awaited dream a reality,” noted Kristen Casselman, Managing Director of the WDMH Foundation.

Joan Dunlop summed up the day: “It is such a proud day for Winchester and the surrounding area. We look forward to the next visit by the Minister in a hard hat when we break ground!”

For more details about the new Dundas Manor, visit www.dundasmanor.ca.

The government is now accepting applications from current and potential operators to build new long-term care beds and redevelop existing ones. Interested parties can submit an online application until March 31, 2020.

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