Vancouver Coastal Health is preparing to build a new long-term care home at the former forestry building on Loggers Lane. The District of Squamish sold the property to the Province for $17.49 million in January this year.
The new five-storey home, located at 42000 Loggers Lane, will add 58 new long-term care beds and four hospice beds. It will also replace 90 beds at Hilltop House, including 85 long-term care beds, one respite bed and four hospice beds. The new home will also offer a 10-space day program for older adults and child-care space for 37 children.
The project’s capital cost is estimated to be $286 million and will be funded by the Province. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and be complete in 2030. Vancouver Coastal Health will build, own and operate the care home. Planning has been underway for several years based on identified facility, clinical and community needs. It will be further refined through the Health Vision Sea to Sky community engagement process, Province said.
The new long-term care home will be designed as “households,” each accommodating 12 residents. Every resident will have a private single bedroom and bathroom within households, including social and recreational spaces, such as living rooms, dining rooms, activity areas and access to outdoor spaces.
“Our seniors deserve accessible and timely health care that meets their needs as they age,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The Hilltop House has been a great home for their residents for over three decades. We will add a new state-of-the-art building to replace the existing 90 beds and increase the number of long-term care and hospice beds to 152 to meet the increased demand of the communities in Squamish. This will benefit seniors and the overall health system significantly.”
“This new long-term care home in Squamish will provide support for seniors in the region, helping them remain close to their loved ones and community, while receiving the quality care they need, if and when they need it,” said Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care. “By also offering an adult program, this will allow more seniors in the community to age in place, in their own homes for longer.”
“Vancouver Coastal Health is pleased to expand services for seniors and their families in the Sea-to-Sky corridor,” said Darlene McKinnon, vice-president, coastal community at Vancouver Coastal Health. “We are grateful for the support and look forward to working with our partners, including the Ministry of Health, Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, and District of Squamish.”
Carolyn Eaton says
A hopeful announcement, given my own age.