A long-term care facility in downtown Toronto is undergoing reconstruction with a fresh layout that incorporates insights gained from the COVID-19 outbreak, surpassing the existing provincial regulations. The redesign of the Rekai Centre’s Cherry Place, from the positioning of trash receptacles to the overall structure, is geared towards curbing viral transmission and focusing on the emotional and social well-being of residents, as stated by Sue Graham-Nutter, the CEO of the center.
In light of the lessons learned during the pandemic, the 13-story Cherry Street facility will feature upgraded measures such as infection control zones, sealed doors, enhanced oxygen availability, and a total of 348 beds. While the current Ontario guidelines mandate a maximum of two residents per room and the division of patients into self-contained cohorts of up to 32 individuals, known as “resident home areas,” the Rekai Centre’s modifications have been lauded as a positive step by Dr. Samir Sinha, an expert in geriatrics and health policy research.
Dr. Sinha advocates for a shift towards a “small care homes” model, emphasizing smaller group sizes of 10 to 12 individuals per household, each with private bedrooms and bathrooms. This approach, akin to palliative care hospices or group homes for younger populations, is believed to enhance emotional well-being, staff retention, and infection control. The NIA’s study suggests that consistent care provided by dedicated teams within these smaller settings can lead to better health outcomes and reduce hospital visits.
The Cherry Place project, overseen by architect Dustin Hooper, incorporates elements such as communal outdoor spaces, family suites for visitation, and smaller, homier resident home areas accommodating 14 to 18 beds. Individual rooms with private bathrooms are intended to minimize disease transmission in case of an outbreak, with shared bathrooms assigned strategically to residents based on mobility levels.
In advocating for a more personalized and community-focused approach to long-term care, Dr. Sinha stresses the importance of government support in transitioning existing care homes to smaller-scale models. While the province permits facilities to adopt such models, there is a call for updated standards to align with best practices and cater to the evolving needs of Ontario’s aging population.
Construction of Cherry Place is scheduled for completion in June 2028, with the facility expected to open in January of the same year. As Ontario continues its efforts to address the demand for long-term care beds, with over 49,000 individuals on the waitlist as of early 2023, the goal is to establish or renew 58,000 beds by 2028, with progress already made on constructing additional facilities to meet this target.