New Prescott and Russell Residence to welcome residents Oct. 21 and 22

The Prescott and Russell Residence will welcome residents to its new Hawkesbury home Oct. 21 and 22, more than five years after the $93-million redevelopment project began in February 2021.

The new bilingual, county-run long-term care home will have 224 beds, an increase of 78 over the existing facility. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell announced Oct. 13 that the project is complete and the Ministry of Long-Term Care has cleared the building to receive residents.

Residents throughout Prescott-Russell, including Russell Township, can apply for care at the home through Ontario Health atHome. Admission depends on eligibility and bed availability.

“Our teams are mobilized and ready to ensure a safe, coordinated, and comfortable move for all of our residents,” residence administrator Alexandre Gorman said.

“This is a well-planned logistical operation that will be carried out with care to ensure a smooth and successful transition for everyone.”

Residents will move from the existing home at 1020 Cartier Blvd. to the new building at 900 Spence Ave. The counties described the move as a journey of about one kilometre. Health-care professionals, community partners, family members and friends will accompany residents through the transition.

Stéphane P. Parisien, the counties’ chief administrative officer, said the Ministry of Long-Term Care had confirmed the new home was ready to receive its first residents.

“Over the past few days, we have received the green light from the Ministry of Long-Term Care confirming that the new Residence and its state-of-the-art facilities are ready to welcome the first residents,” Parisien said.

“This is a major milestone for the largest project ever undertaken by the UCPR.”

The new residence replaces a facility that opened in the fall of 1978. The redevelopment is supported by the counties and Ontario’s ministries of Long-Term Care and Infrastructure.

The 193,000-square-foot building includes a central courtyard, interior courtyards, landscaped outdoor spaces, dining rooms, a multipurpose hall and a beauty salon. Accommodation includes standard, semi-private and private rooms.

Care stations are located at the entrance to each of the home’s seven living areas. The counties said additional space beyond minimum standards has been included to support daily activities and operations.

Warden Mario Zanth said the added beds would help the counties meet growing demand for long-term care.

“We are extremely pleased to have carried out this project, which is of great importance to our regional community, particularly thanks to the addition of 78 new beds, which will allow us to continue meeting the growing needs of our population,” Zanth said.

He also thanked residence staff and the project’s partners and wished residents and their loved ones well with the move.