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$6.9M facility scheduled to open in summer 2010
A10
By Jesse Robichaud
Times & Transcript Staff

REXTON - If all goes well, construction of a new $6.9-million nursing home will begin in Rexton in June.

The project will eventually connect to a new $2-million health centre that will be built in the village.

"It is going to be one big complex on the site," said Nancy Cail, the administrator of Rexton Lions Nursing Home, "It is always nice in our line of work to have doctors next door under one roof."

Cail's father was a founding member of the board of directors of the nursing home that opened almost 35 years ago, and she can't hide her excitement when she thinks of how the new facility will change the lives of the home's residents and give the local economy a boost.

"We have some local manufacturers and suppliers that we hope have an opportunity to reap some of the benefits," said Cail, noting that the tendering process will close on May 1.

But while the residents of Rexton Lions Nursing Home can look forward to moving into new, state-of-the-art accommodations in the summer of 2010, the number of beds will not increase beyond the 30 that currently exist.

The charitable organization that runs the home applied to increase the number of beds to 50 from 30, but was told by the Department of Social Development that there is not a sufficient demand in the Kent County area to warrant the extra beds.

That decision was made despite a widespread acknowledgment that the province-wide shortage of nursing home spaces is crippling the health-care system.

"We certainly wish it would have been increased to 50 beds," said Cail, noting that the home consistently has a waiting list.

"(But) when the long-term care strategy came out in 2008, that study determined that for our area here we have ample number of beds to cover in our area."

Cail said the charitable organization that runs the home is nevertheless excited to see the tendering process under way.

The group hopes to award the tender by early June so that construction can begin as soon as possible.

"They tell us that it takes 12 to 14 months for (the home) to be build, and of course we hope for less but it's perfect timing," said Cail.

Cail said the architecture of the new facility, and changes to guidelines within the Department of Social Development, will dramatically improve the comfort and quality of life for residents and their families.

"Along the way they realized that some of the standards they have for nursing homes were probably from many years ago and needed to be updated," she said.

Cail said the new building will provide more privacy to residents while they spend time with family members.

"There will be niches where you can sit privately. It is not all just in one big space."

She said the building will be more than twice the size of the current facility and space will be used to the full advantage of residents.

"It is so exciting for us because the residents are living in such a small place," said Cail.

A kitchen area will provide residents with the chance to cook for themselves or with the help of staff, and a large central activity area will offer a space to do anything from Nintendo Wii to a game of cards.

"We are going to have two beautiful interior courtyards to go outside to the garden, and we will have a large activity area where our church services will be held," said Cail.

The number of private rooms will be boosted to 24, and rooms and washrooms will be much bigger than in the current facility, said Cail.

"We will have our own lounge, our own dining room, whereas currently our dining room and lounge are one room."

Cail grew up near the current facility and, like her father, she served on the board of directors before becoming the administrator about two years ago.

"The architect has done a fantastic job to capture the heritage of our community," said Cail, adding that residents will appreciate the design and the location that is nearer the bustle of the village.

"We will be closer to the road. The residents will have a little more of a view of what's going on and going by."