New plans for Carlton Gardens will provide up-to-date residential care facility for Burnaby seniors.
Fraser Health and Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT have announced plans to completely redevelop the aging Carlton Gardens into a modern, up-to-date residential care facility for seniors. The new 128-bed facility, which will open in 2012-2013, will be Burnaby's most modern facility and will provide the highest level of care possible to its residents.
"Our government is committed to supporting the development of housing that meets the complex and changing needs of our seniors," said Richard T. Lee, MLA Burnaby North. "The new Carlton Gardens will offer the care that Burnaby seniors need to allow them to remain in their community, close to family and friends."
Chartwell will invest approximately $27 million in the two-year redevelopment project that will include closing and demolishing the current 142-bed facility to make way for a brand-new construction. Fraser Health will provide $7.4 million annually to fund 116 residential-care beds at the site. The other 12 residential-care beds will be private-pay making up the maximum total of 128 beds permitted by City of Burnaby development regulations. Fraser Health will purchase an additional 26 beds from other providers so there is no reduction in the number of funded beds.
"Fraser Health is pleased to fund 116 residential care beds at Carlton Gardens to ensure seniors in Burnaby who can no longer be cared for in their own homes have access to the best care possible," said Fraser Health CEO Nigel Murray. "We are excited to partner with Chartwell to provide safe, affordable, up-to-date housing and care for our seniors. The new building will be designed specifically to support staff in providing the complex care that our residents need."
Carlton Gardens is located at 4125 Canada Way in Burnaby. Although employees at Carlton Gardens do their best to provide quality care for their residents, the current facility is outdated, and has aged beyond ability to meet the needs of seniors requiring complex care.
Carlton Gardens is owned by Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT, which owns and operates a range of seniors housing communities across Canada, from independent supportive living and assisted living, to long-term care. It is one of the largest participants in the seniors housing business in North America.
The original Carlton Hospital was built in 1966 and Carlton Lodge was added in 1972. When Chartwell purchased the facility in 2005, the company began planning to replace the aging facility with a modern, state-of-the-art facility that is up to the high standards it sets for all of its residential care facilities.
The new Carlton Gardens will be approximately 87,000 square feet and will take 16-18 months to construct. The building will have eight residential neighborhoods on four levels with dedicated indoor lounge and activity areas and outdoor spaces. The design will meet long-term care guidelines and provide for modern, homelike and safe place for residents to live and staff to work.
"We are very excited to receive approval from Fraser Health to redevelop our Carlton Gardens and build a new, modern residential care residence for the seniors of Burnaby," said Brent Binions, President and CEO of Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT. "We look forward to working closely with Fraser Health to ensure our residents and their family members are included in all transition decisions."
Before the demolition of the current facility and construction of the new building can begin, approximately 100-110 residents will need to be relocated to other facilities. Fraser Health and Carlton Gardens staff members will work with residents and family members to develop individual transition plans for each resident to relocate to nearby residential care facilities in Burnaby, New Westminster and Coquitlam. Fraser Health will purchase temporary beds during the redevelopment project to offset the beds that will be closed during the demolition and construction phases of the project.
Residents who wish to return to the new Carlton Gardens will be given first priority for placement when the new facility opens in 2012-2013.
News item c/o Fraser Health. Fraser Health provides a wide range of integrated health services to the largest and fastest growing population in B.C. The health authority is committed to improving the health of the population and the quality of life of more than 1.6 million people living in communities from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope.
