Providence Living at The Views stands as a beacon of innovation, community integration, and a re-imagined approach to long-term care. Photo credit: Providence Living
COMOX VALLEY – Providence Living at The Views, an innovative long-term care home in the Comox Valley has opened its door to residents as of July 8, 2024.
Providence Living at The Views, located at 211 Rodello St., Comox, is Canada’s first public, non-profit long-term care home based on the concepts of a dementia village in the Netherlands: a small-scale community designed to promote a sense of belonging and purpose for residents through autonomy and community engagement.
Designed for seniors with and without dementia, as well as younger adults requiring long-term care, Providence Living at The Views is an inclusive long-term care home intended to help residents maintain their independence, social connections and desired personal routines.
Located at the former site of St. Joseph’s General Hospital, the 156-resident home will be organized into 13 households, which include a shared kitchen, laundry room, dining room and living room. Each household will accommodate 12 residents who will each get a private suite with a bathroom and personalized features like a storage space and windows providing natural light to create an inviting, homey atmosphere.
Residents will be able to take part in regular household activities, such as cooking and gardening, and will have access to an outdoor courtyard and community amenities.
Providence Living also worked with the K’ómoks First Nation to design a first-of-its-kind sacred gathering space intended for First Nations, Métis and Inuit staff, residents and families to honour their traditions.
The home will focus on a new care and staffing model called Home for Us. Care will shift from the traditional model of care to a new social/relational model of care that integrates a person-centred approach. The care model will move from scheduled routines to flexible routines where the pace and rhythms of the day are determined by the household members. This ensures residents have control over their routines from day to day.
“Providence Living at The Views marks the beginning of our unwavering commitment to revolutionizing long-term care for seniors in British Columbia,” said Mark Blandford, president and CEO, Providence Living. “By embracing the Home for Us care model, which is person-centred, made-in-B.C. and inspired by the concepts of a dementia village, we are replacing the conventional institutional approach with one that truly honors each resident’s individuality and daily well-being.”
In February 2020, Island Health signed a project development agreement with Providence Living to redevelop a care community to replace The Views through joint funding from the Province, Island Health, St. Paul’s Foundation and the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation.
“This trailblazing long-term care home – the first of its kind in Island Health, British Columbia and Canada – marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing compassionate, person-centred care for residents with dementia. By partnering in a facility aimed at fostering emotional connections, preserving autonomy, and promoting personal fulfilment, we have exemplified our dedication to enhancing quality of life for all residents,” said Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health.
Business Examiner Staff