n the last issue, I wrote about my mom's move to the Glebe Centre, our local long-term care facility on Bank Street, just across from Lansdowne Park. I described the present configuration of the complex, but did not say that the whole place is about to change.
Three years ago, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care determined that the tower does not meet new Design Standards and must be renovated or rebuilt. During my mom's brief stay on the seventh floor of the Tower, I saw for myself some of the problems involved in using a 26-year-old structure, built as a seniors' residence, for the long-term care of people with many different needs. The elevators are awkward and inadequate for getting everyone (many in wheelchairs or using walkers) up and down to three meals a day in the main floor dining room.
Activity coordinators have to deal with the same problem. The present set-up allows only 18 residents per floor, which makes for inefficient use of staff as well as office and storage space. For instance, my sister and I felt lucky that the seventh floor had a nursing station; most of the floors don't.
The new plans include converting the tower to thirteen floors of one- and two-bedroom life-lease apartments for people 55 plus. Half the units have been sold already.
The new facility, built where the parking lot is currently, will be a six-story building designed around a concept called Resident Home Areas (RHA). There will be 32 people on each residential floor, and each floor will have its own amenities such as dining, living and activity rooms. Each room will have a barrier-free washroom (not true in the present tower). One of the floors will house a specially-designed Alzheimer unit.
The connecting area between Bronson Place and the new building will be designed to resemble a village street, including a gift shop, hairdresser and eating area. On the second floor will be a Gathering Place and Worship Centre. The whole design maximizes outdoor space, with gardens and balconies.
The Glebe Centre is part of your community, and, in case you didn't know...it's being remodeled!