Grenfell mayor excited for new long-term care facility

A new long-term care facility has been needed in the town of Grenfell for decades, according to the mayor, and on Tuesday the province finally made the commitment.

Rural and Remote Health Minister Warren Kaeding announced an $80-million package to build two new long-term care facilities – one in Grenfell and another in La Ronge – and to fix infrastructure issues at 51 other facilities in the province.

“It’s been 33 years of planning and work (by) local residents and past councils and it’s exciting to finally see it coming to fruition,” said Grenfell Mayor Rod Wolfe.

The Grenfell & District Pioneer Home was shut down in August of 2018 for mold issues and residents were moved to other facilities.

Wolfe said the wait has been frustrating for the town.

“Any time you’re trying to move forward and waiting that long it’s going to be frustrating.”

But he said the current town council took a different approach and has been working closely with the Sask. Health Authority (SHA) to get the project started.

“Any time you’re losing your long-term residence out of your home town it’s concerning. And it’s tough for planning and that too, and now that we have an announcement and hopefully we can keep our residents in the town of Grenfell with planning for their future,” explained Wolfe.

The town has proposed a couple of different locations and has been raising money for a facility over the years, but Wolfe said they’ll have to see what comes out with any developers and what their plans are.

Kaeding explained the two-year wait for a commitment, saying the province wanted to do its due diligence and look at all types of facilities to be put into the community.

“It’s just getting to the point now where we’re making this full commitment to the community,” said Kaeding.

Kaeding said the decision still hasn’t been made whether it will be an SHA funded facility, an affiliate, or whether it will be a third-party facility. He said a decision is expected shortly.

The Grenfell facility will have 33 beds.

The new facility in La Ronge will have 80 rooms, with 70 for long-term care and 10 respite beds. It will go to serve a growing need in north-central Saskatchewan, according to Kaeding. He said a decision hasn’t been made yet whether the current 16-bed facility there will stay open.

Both homes are expected to be up and running by late 2022 or early 2023.

About $73 million will go to the new long-term care facilities. About $7.2 million will be invested in this fiscal year for 82 priority renewal projects in 51 long-term care facilities across the province. The renewal projects include things like flooring and window replacements, heating and air conditioning upgrades, and water and sewer line replacement. Many things which Kaeding said were identified as problems in the 2019 CEO Tour report, released recently.