Greater Victoria is one step closer to achieving a health care goal as construction officially began Tuesday at the Heights at Mt. View, the latest addition to the Campus of Care.
The seven-storey, 260-bed residential care facility is a joint effort between Baptist Housing, the Capital Regional Hospital District and the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
The $60.5-million Heights at Mt. View will form one-third of the Campus of Care, a site devoted to seniors, housing for the homeless and affordable family housing.
B次元官网网址淭he end is in sight,B次元官网网址 said Charlie Nishi, chair of the Baptist Housing board of directors. B次元官网网址淭his road has had its challenges.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been our concern for a number of years as we endeavour to provide quality residential care while working in buildings that werenB次元官网网址檛 always optimal for todayB次元官网网址檚 needs.B次元官网网址
Unlike other care facilities in the region, The Heights at Mt. View includes two, 20-patient houses specially designed for patients with early stages of dementia.
B次元官网网址淭hey are able to be in a community where people that have similar dementia issues. Those residents actually respond better from a health perspective because theyB次元官网网址檙e around other people like them,B次元官网网址 said Howard Johnson, president of Baptist Housing.
B次元官网网址淚n the past, people who suffer from dementia have been placed in care at a high level, and immediately their care deteriorates to the level of the residents who are around them.B次元官网网址
The units are designed to feel home-like with private bedrooms, and a shared kitchen, dining room, living room and den area, and moves away from dorm-like facilities built in the 1970s.
The Heights at Mount View will eventually replace Baptist HousingB次元官网网址檚 outdated Central Care Home and Mount Edwards Court.
The project is at 3814 Carey Rd., on CRHD land and the former Mount View school site.
The CRHD contributed $18.1 towards capital costs to retain public ownership of the land, which will be leased to Baptist housing for 25 years.
VIHA will provide operating funding to Baptist Housing, which will also contribute monetarily through a $1-million grant. The building is slated to open in December 2014.
nnorth@saanichnews.com