Cottonwoods Care Centre (photo courtesy of Interior Health)

By Liam Verster

Cottonwoods Care Centre

Long-term care facility to be replaced in $186M project

Jun 28, 2024 | 10:45 AM

A new and improved long-term care facility will be used to replace an existing one in Kelowna.

The province and Interior Health announced a new care community will be built at the Cottonwoods Care Centre in a $186-million project

“Everyone deserves to know as they age that high-quality health-care services will be available when they’re needed, including assisted living and long-term care, close to home,” Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, said.

“I would like to thank the regional hospital district for its partnership as we transform the Cottonwoods Care Centre by bringing modern, state-of-the-art technology and care to the community, and delivering on our promise to better support central Okanagan seniors and their families.”

The new four-storey long-term care home, located at the current Cottonwoods Care Centre site at 2255 Ethel St., will increase the facilities capacity from 221 to 314 beds, with state of the art features and technology.

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“Replacing Cottonwoods with a modern care home will be a great addition to the Central Okanagan,” Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health, said.

“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 province said the new facility will be designed as “households” that can accommodate 12 to 18 residents in single-bed rooms with private washrooms. The “households” will also include social and recreational spaces, as in a typical home, such as a living room, dining room, activity space and outdoor access. They will also be designed in a way to accommodate people with dementia.

The community space in the new facility will have services for residents, such as art and activity rooms, a hair salon, a sacred space, a 25 space adult day program for people living more independently in the community, and a child care space with the capacity to care for 37 children.

The new facility will cost $186.97-million to construct, and will be jointly funded by the province, through Interior Health, and the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District.

“Long-term care is a vital resource we may all need someday, whether for ourselves or a loved one,” Blair Ireland, chair of the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District, stated.

“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.”

The project is moving into the procurement phase, with construction expected to begin in 2026, and be complete and ready for residents to move in in 2029.

“Seniors are valued members of our society and deserve the best quality of care when they need it in their own communities,” Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long Term Care, added.

“By continuing to invest in and improve long-term care homes around the province, such as the new Kelowna Cottonwoods Care Centre, we’re ensuring that older adults in our province can age with dignity, and have access to care they can count on, near their loved ones. This will also support health-care workers by providing them the modernized and new facility, where they can continue to provide exceptional care.”