With an aging population there’s a big need for seniors housing and old-style retirement or nursing homes aren’t enough anymore. With that in mind a big new project was built in Penetanguishene and on Thursday it was open for business.
Simcoe County Warden Cal Patterson and M.P.P. Mario Sergio cut the ribbon at the official opening of Georgian Village. The new $85 million lifestyle community for seniors will be home for up to 400 people in the later stages of their lives.
“I get my meals here and for all the rest I have my privacy and everything else a human being needs, I really like it here,” said 83-year-old Greata Van Der Zwan resident.
This facility replaces the Georgian Manor long term care home in Penetanguishene. Georgette Nolan says the old home wasn't big enough anymore.
“There was a long waiting list so they really needed this.”
Georgian Village offers a wide range of housing options for seniors. There are life lease garden homes and condos, affordable housing, assisted living and a long-term care home all on a 20 acre property. There will also be a pharmacy, doctors, a restaurant and activities for residents. Jane Sinclair steered the project from day one and says this is a new kind of care for seniors.
“Provide excellent housing, a suit of services and a social network that people can call home in their own community.”
The province contributed more than a third of the cost to build Georgian Village, the federal government also chipped in. Patterson says this new seniors community sets the standard for the future.
“We all get older and need assisted care; our hospital can't handle them that obvious so there is definitely a need for more facilities like this here in Simcoe County and across the province.”
The facility is open to the public as well so any one in the community can access the services that are offered here once everything is up running that is expected in January.
