To provide better care for aging seniors in the community the Province along with Fraser Health, will add 125 publicly funded long term-care beds to the region with the planned opening of a new facility in Surrey in 2024.
PICS Diversity Village, operated by Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS), will be open to all seniors in need of long-term care and will provide culturally sensitive services to those of South Asian descent.
Across our province, "our seniors population continues to grow, which is why investments into services such as long-term care beds are so important,said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. With the addition of these new beds in the Fraser Health region, we are ensuring services for seniors are in place to support people for many years to come".
PICS Diversity Village will be located at 6471 175A St. in Surrey. South Asian MLA's see this announcement of PCS Diversity Village as welcome news.
"This project by PICS for Surrey is an excellent way to ensure that seniors and their families have access to care that respects their diverse cultural backgrounds and helps make them feel more at home, said Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood. I congratulate PICS, Fraser Health and the province for addressing the growing needs of seniors in Surrey and the surrounding communities".
It will provide a total of 125 publicly funded beds and feature unique neighbourhoods to facilitate community-building with other residents, family members and staff, and will be able to provide care for a full range of complex care residents. The beds will be resourced at an average of 3.36 direct care hours per resident day in keeping with the provincial target.
"As our population continues to age, we are continuing to bolster the resources we provide seniors living in our region, including long-term care beds, said Dr. Victoria Lee, Fraser Health, President and CEO. While we want to ensure we are supporting people to live independently in the community for as long as possible, we are also working to make long-term care beds more accessible to seniors if and when they need that level of support".
While all beds will have the capacity to provide culturally sensitive care to the South Asian population, any senior who meets the criteria to be admitted into long-term care can list PICS Diversity Village as their preferred facility, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background.
"Surrey is by far one of the most diverse cities in B.C. I am happy this new diversity village will ensure seniors of all backgrounds can receive everyday care in their native culture from food to religious practices. said Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama. This announcement demonstrates the government is adapting to the cultural needs of aging people throughout B.C. and that diversity is our strength."
"PICS has been serving the community for more than 30 years", said Satbir Singh Cheema, president and CEO, PICS. "Creating a more inclusive and respectful society is at the core of everything we do, and PICS Diversity Village will be an extension of our vision. I thank all our partners and everyone who has supported our dream of providing a culturally safe home for seniors. PICS Diversity Village is a result of a partnership between the Ministry of Health, Fraser Health and PICS".
The total capital cost of the project is expected to be $58 million, with PICS providing $5 million in fundraising for the construction. Once open, the Ministry of Health, through Fraser Health, will provide operational funding on an ongoing basis for care services.
Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in 2022.
Photo courtesy of PICS.
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