Press release
Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood to gain up to 74 residential care beds in new and expanded facility
Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has signed an agreement with Villa Cathay Care Home Society to rebuild and expand its residential care home in Vancouver. The contract will see VCH increase the number of beds purchased from Villa Cathay by 42 for a total of 192 publicly funded beds.
The existing Villa Cathay Care Home will be replaced with a new facility built in two phases. A 10-storey concrete tower is scheduled to open in March 2019, followed by an adjoining three-storey low-rise in late 2020. Once complete, Villa Cathay Care Home will also offer up to 32 private pay beds.
“The Province and its partners – including Vancouver Coastal Health - are preparing for the care shift that will take place as B.C.’s population ages and grows,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “The new and expanded Villa Cathay Care Home will have more beds for seniors and is reflective of the work happening in communities across B.C. to support the complex residential care needs of British Columbians.”
“We are pleased to announce the signing of a contract with Villa Cathay to modernize one of the largest full-service care homes in North America for residents with an Asian ethnic background,” says Laura Case, Chief Operating Officer, VCH-Vancouver Community. “The new care home will enhance residents’ privacy and the experience of care by offering single rooms, private washrooms, more activity space and better access for wheelchairs.”
There will be four double rooms to accommodate couples. Villa Cathay Care home is located near Chinatown. The majority of residents have an Asian ethnic background, and all staff speak Cantonese and/or Mandarin.
This project is part of a larger 10-year rejuvenation strategy for residential care across Vancouver Coastal Health. It follows a rigorous procurement process to replace several hundred beds in residential care centres that no longer fully meet resident needs. To date, Vancouver Coastal Health has signed agreements for about 800 beds in new and expanded facilities, and an additional 150 beds are planned over the next year.
Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for the delivery of $3.4 billion in community, hospital and residential care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Carrie Stefanson
Public Affairs Officer
Vancouver Coastal Health
Office: 604.708.5338
Cell: 604.312.1148
E: carrie.stefanson@vch.ca