Construction of the Sunshine Lodge expansion is moving forward with a funding boost from the provincial government due to rising construction costs, and is expected to begin end of July.
In November 2019, the Mail reported Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon announced a commitment of $7 million for the Sunshine Lodge expansion to add 26 new seniors living accommodations; on Monday, July 4, the Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation (DDSF) learned this funding was increased to $9 million.
“The new Supportive Living Level 4 (SL4) facility has been needed in the Drumheller area for years,” said DDSF Chair Tom Zariski in a press release. “With our increasing aging population, it will provide the required level of care and be extremely beneficial to the citizens of the Drumheller area for many years to come.”
DDSF is supported by the Town of Drumheller, Starland County, and the villages of Delia, Morrin, and Munson.
The project is budgeted at a total of $14 million, with a $5 million contribution funded by DDSF, will see the old 500 wing of Sunshine Lodge, which was originally built in the 1960s, demolished and renovated with eight new suites.
A two storey building with 26 bedrooms, meeting rooms, commercial kitchen, and dining areas will also be built to provide Designated Supportive Living Level 4 (SL4) care.
Chandos Construction from Red Deer has been contracted to complete the project.
“The Seniors Foundation is responsible for furnishing the new facilities,” shares DDSF Chair Tom Zariski.
Mr. Zariski notes, as the equipment for the expansion must be hospital-quality due to the level of care being provided, he estimates the cost to furnish the facility could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
There are different levels of seniors living care in Alberta, which ranges from more independent living to supportive living.
For seniors who are able to remain independent, Home Care, or Supportive Living 1 (SL1) services provide personal and medical care services in the privacy of their own home.
Seniors lodges, such as Maple Ridge Manors I and II in Drumheller, Highland Dell in Delia, and Blooming Prairies in Morrin, are catered to seniors who are still fairly independent and can move about with little to no assistance with a private suite or bedroom, and have access to Home Care support if needed.
Designated Supportive Living facilities offer the highest level of care for seniors and is broken down into three different levels of care. These facilities provide 24-hour medical staffing and personal care to seniors.
Currently, Sunshine Lodge offers up to SL2 level of care while Hillview Lodge provides up to SL3 care.
Seniors who require more complex medical care at the DSL-4 level, or the DSL-4 Dementia (DLS-4D) are cared for at the Drumheller Health Centre.
“We have had instances of people who get to that level of care (DSL-4) in hospitals-some who have been born and raised here, and built this area-and when the hospital is full, they are told ‘There’s no room for you’ and are shipped out of the community to Hanna, or Red Deer, Calgary, or Airdrie,” Mr. Zariski says.
He says the foundation will start a fundraising campaign to support this endeavour, and they will be offering sponsorship opportunities to local organizations, businesses, individuals and families.
“This (expansion) is for everyone in the area, not just Drumheller,” Mr. Zariski told the Mail.
He adds, as the new expansion will offer a higher level of care, it will allow seniors to continue to age within the community, regardless of their care needs.
