Construction of a new Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home may start by late 2024.
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“This is an important and exciting time for Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home,” said Ken Robb, chair of the board for the home. “The time is now to begin designing our future. As we have been an integral part of the community for the past 47 years, we are poised to take a quantum leap forward.”
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Collaborating with the Ministry of Long-Term Care, architects and various agencies, the project is progressing through the capital planning process.
The new long-term care home, anticipated to be more than 120,000-square-feet in size, will expand bed capacity, meet upgraded provincial design standards and enhance services for residents.
The new facility will include features for residents with dementia and provide increased privacy. Recognizing the burgeoning need for long-term care beds in the region, the Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home board of directors recently submitted a proposal to increase to 161 beds to meet the growing demands of the area’s aging population.
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“While the initial plan was to rebuild on our current site, a comprehensive board assessment revealed it’s not feasible,” Todd Stepanuik, president and CEO of Norfolk General Hospital and Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home, said in a news release. “For a variety of compelling reasons, construction on a greenfield site is a more viable solution.”
Stepanuik said the current site is landlocked and building there would hinder construction and future expansions, including those of Norfolk General Hospital. Most importantly, he said, rebuilding on the current site would require the displacement of residents.
“The greenfield site approach ensures the well-being of our residents, providing them with a sense of stability and continuity in their living environment and minimizing any disruption to them,” said Stepanuik.
The selection of a site is pending.
“When speaking with our residents about the redevelopment plans, they shared the importance of good food, a view of the outdoors, access to the outdoors, and a comfortable welcoming place to visit with friends and family,” said Vicky Florio, Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home’s director of care. “We look forward to this amazing opportunity in providing our residents and dedicated staff with a safe, modern space we will be proud to call home for many years to come.”
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