New home will bring 200 much-needed long-term care beds to the province
Pickering — Construction is underway on a new 200-bed long-term care home in Pickering. This home is one of 67 long-term care home projects fast-tracked with support from the Ontario government’s increased construction funding subsidy. This is part of the government’s commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
“Our government is fixing long-term care and ensuring we build homes for seniors in the communities they helped build,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today’s ground-breaking for a new long-term care home marks a significant milestone for Pickering and Durham Region. When construction is complete, 200 residents will have a new, modern and comfortable place to call home.”
The new home will provide 200 new beds and is expected to welcome its first residents in summer 2026. The three-storey building will feature design improvements, including an outdoor café/terrace and gardens for residents and visitors, larger resident common areas and air conditioning throughout the home. The design is centred around resident home areas, each of which creates a more intimate and familiar living space for up to 32 residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms. The home has also proposed to include two 20-bed behavioural specialized units that support more vulnerable residents with complex care needs like dementia.
As a result of the government’s increase to the construction funding subsidy, which was designed to stimulate the start of construction for more long-term care homes across Ontario, 67 projects received ministry approval to construct between April 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023. This means 11,199 new and upgraded beds are being built to modern design standards across the province.
The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve. The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.
Quick Facts
- The development project for north Pickering is a not-for-profit, municipal home that will be operated by the Regional Municipality of Durham.
- The new home is located at 1550 Alexander Knox Road in Pickering.
- As part of its plan to fix long-term care and address sector waitlists, the government is building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
- Building more modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors is part of the Government of Ontario’s Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021.
- The province is taking innovative steps to get long-term care homes built, including modernizing its funding model, selling unused lands with the requirement that long-term care homes be built on portions of the properties, and leveraging hospital-owned land to build urgently needed homes in large urban areas.
- As of December 2023, more than 44,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. The median wait time is 118 days for applicants to be placed in long-term care.
Quotes
“Today marks a significant milestone as we break ground on our new long-term care home in Pickering, made possible by this government’s increased construction funding subsidy. This investment addresses the urgent need for long-term care beds and demonstrates our commitment to serving our seniors. With its expanding population and vibrant community spirit, Pickering stands as an ideal location for our new long-term care home.”
– Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge
“Once constructed, this long-term care home will provide accommodations, state-of-the-art amenities and specialized services to the residents. I am proud that our government is taking action to ensure that the home’s seniors are able to receive the care that they need – and enjoy the high quality of life that they deserve – within the very community that they planned and developed.”
– Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby
“It is important that, as a community, we ensure Durham Region remains a welcoming environment that supports the well-being of seniors as they age. This new not-for-profit long-term care home in north Pickering will provide 200 local seniors with an incredible place to call home. I’m proud of the great progress that our government has made on its plan to provide more long-term care options for our seniors.”
– Patrice Barnes, MPP for Ajax
“Our government takes pride in constructing homes and ensuring the safety and access to necessary modern services for our elderly. Progress is underway as we embark on the construction of 67 expedited long-term care homes, aiming to support seniors across Ontario. Having been cared for by older generations, this new facility in Pickering embodies our commitment to extending that care to those who have contributed to shaping Durham Region into the thriving community it is today.”
– Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham
“As Pickering continues to grow, it is imperative that we prioritize the well-being of our seniors, ensuring they can age comfortably while remaining in the community they cherish and call home. This investment will ensure seniors receive essential health services and address the lack of access faced by seniors across Ontario. The new facility in our vibrant Seaton community will not only provide innovative care services, but also serve as a pillar of compassion and support for our aging population. Together, we’re building a future where every senior in Pickering and Durham Region can live their golden years with the care and respect they deserve, helping shape the future of health care for our community and beyond.”
– Kevin Ashe, Mayor, City of Pickering
“As our region grows, it’s critical that investments like the one we are celebrating today are made in health care infrastructure to support our aging population. This new facility will address a very real need for more long-term care beds in Durham, ensuring residents have a place they can age safely, comfortably, and with the respect and dignity that they deserve as valued members of our community. This facility will become a community fixture that will add to the diversity and vitality of the community for years to come. Congratulations to everyone involved in this important project.”
– Elizabeth Roy, Mayor of Whitby
“Durham Region strives to be a caring and age-friendly community, a safe place where everyone is treated with respect. Investment from the Ministry of Long-Term Care will enable the building of this new home, which will provide health and human services that ensure all residents may age with dignity; help alleviate long-term care home shortages and capacity issues; and provide the quality of care and life that Durham Region’s aging population deserves.”
– John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, Durham Region
Additional Resources
2023 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Building a Strong Ontario Together
Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
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Media Contacts
Daniel Strauss
Office of the Minister of Long-Term Care
Daniel.Strauss@ontario.ca
Ministry of Long-Term Care Media Line
Communications Branch
MLTC.Media@ontario.ca