Lakeridge Health celebrated the grand opening of Lakeridge Gardens, Durham Region’s newest long-term care home.
“On behalf of the entire Lakeridge Health team, I am honoured to welcome 320 future residents, more than 500 team members, and countless volunteers, families, and visitors to Lakeridge Gardens,” said Sharon Cochran, chair, of the Board of Trustees at Lakeridge Health. “Thousands of individuals from across the region came together to make this home a reality. Thanks to their collaboration and dedication, seniors across Durham Region will have access to high-quality long-term care services closer to home. I am confident our vision of One System. Best Health. will be felt by the residents who will call Lakeridge Gardens their home and by the families who will make memories in this building for years to come.”
The home was designed and built with evidence-informed infection prevention and control measures and with the resident and their family at the centre of care. Lakeridge Gardens’ features include outdoor spaces on each floor, a specialized behavioural unit with access to a secure rooftop terrace, private and semi-private rooms, a hair salon and spas, and multiple bright and sunny gathering areas for families to connect with their loved ones. The home also houses a nine-station dialysis unit.
“Our government has a plan to fix long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe, and comfortable homes for our seniors,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Lakeridge Gardens is the first project to be completed under our government’s Accelerated Build Pilot Program and was built in record time. We’re proud to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art long-term care home which will be a place for 320 seniors in Durham Region to call home, near their family and friends.”
Lakeridge Gardens was first announced in July 2020 as part of the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s Accelerated Build Pilot Program, in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario. PCL Construction broke ground on the home in January 2021 and, after 13 months of rapid progress, major construction on the home was finalized in February 2022. The home will formally begin to welcome residents and families during the first move-in day scheduled for March 29.
“On behalf of Durham Region, I am thrilled to see this new long-term care home become a reality. This remarkable facility reflects the shared vision we all have for better health care and support in Durham Region,” said John Henry, Durham Regional Chair. “A vision of a place where we work to ensure that no one gets left behind or falls through the cracks. A place where quality of life is second to none, families continue to thrive, and our residents continue to say it’s the best place to call home. This new facility is a big step towards realizing that vision.”
Featured image: (Lakeridge Health)
