New publicly funded care beds open in Fraser Health region

BCCPA salutes effort by FHA to expand home and community care

This week families and seniors living in the Fraser Valley received good news that new beds are opening at four BC Care Provider Association (BCCPA) member care homes located in Chilliwack and Langley. It is a further signal of the ongoing effort by Fraser Health Authority (FHA) to direct new resources into home and community care.

In Chilliwack, Fraser Health has added an additional 20 publicly funded residential care beds, bringing the total number of publicly funded residential care beds in this community to 479. In the Langley area, FHA has added an additional 18 publicly funded residential care beds in the Langley area, bringing the total number of publicly funded residential care beds to 681 in that community.

“It is always great to hear when our members are able to expand the amount of publicly funded care in B.C.,” says BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine. “But the Fraser Health Authority deserves special acknowledgement for their progressive approach toward health services, and for recognizing the need to shift additional resources into home and community care.

“When it comes to making the shift, FHA are definitely walking the walk.”

In his statements on the Chilliwack and Langley releases, Minister of Health Adrian Dix continues to underline that seniors are a priority for him and the B.C. government. Says Dix, “We need to ensure that seniors have the supports they need in a place they can call home.”

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In the Langley area, the 18 new publicly funded beds will be located at BCCPA member sites Langley Lodge and Fort Langley Care Centre. All of the beds will be in private rooms situated in clusters referred to as ‘neighbourhoods’ to facilitate community-building with other residents, family members and staff.

In Chilliwack, the 20 new publicly funded beds will be similarly configured and located at Cascade Lodge and Valleyhaven, also BCCPA member care homes.

“While home is always best and we prioritize seniors living at home as long as they can, when living at home is no longer an option we are committed to providing safe, supportive and caring environments to the seniors that live in our communities,” says Fraser Health President and CEO Michael Marchbank.

In the last two years, in addition to these new beds, Fraser Health has opened a total of 403 new residential care beds across the region with more than 8,000 people calling residential care their home.