KELOWNA – A new and improved long-term care community for seniors is being built in the Okangan, the Cottonwoods Care Centre.
Interior Health will construct a new four-storey long-term care home on the current Cottonwoods Care Centre site located at 2255 Ethel St. When complete, Cottonwoods Care Centre will increase from 221 beds built in 1976, to 314 beds with state-of-the art features and technology.
The project will now move into the procurement phase with construction expected to start in 2026 and complete in 2029 with a capital cost of $186.87 million and will be shared by the Province through Interior Health, and the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District.
“Replacing Cottonwoods with a modern care home will be a great addition to the Central Okanagan,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “With this new home, our seniors living at Cottonwoods will benefit from an improved health-care environment in a home-like setting. I know staff and residents will greatly appreciate the upgraded rooms and amenities the new home will provide.”
The care home will be designed as “households” accommodating 12 or 18 residents in single-bed rooms with private washrooms. The care home will include the social and recreational spaces found in a typical home-like environment, such as a living room, dining room, activity space and access to the outdoors. It will incorporate leading practice design features for people experiencing dementia and include culturally sensitive design elements to serve a diverse population in the community.
“Long-term care is a vital resource we may all need someday, whether for ourselves or a loved one. As the chair of the Regional Hospital District, I am pleased with the board’s decision to address the growing demand for compassionate and comprehensive long-term care in our community. As a community member, husband of a health-care worker and grandson of someone who was cared for at Cottonwoods, I know first-hand the profound, lasting impact the new facility will have. Funding this project is not just an investment in a building; it’s an investment in the well-being of our community members and the dedicated staff who care for them,” said Blair Ireland, chair of the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District.
There will be community spaces and services for residents, families, visitors and staff, such as art and activity rooms, a hair salon, a sacred space and a 25-space adult day program for people living more independently in the community. As well, a child care space will be constructed with capacity for 37 children.
Business Examiner Staff