Two Long-Term Care Homes to Open in Central Newfoundland

The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, was in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor today (Monday, March 28) to mark the completion of construction of two new 60-bed long-term care homes which will soon be open. Premier Furey was joined by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services and MHA for Gander.

Central Health has begun clinical orientation of its staff in each building and will start moving patients into the buildings in April. The opening of these two new facilities has created 155 full-time equivalent positions in various disciplines within Central Health.

Construction began on the two identical 6,195 m² (66,685 square feet) buildings in 2019. Each building has 60 resident rooms, treatment spaces, outdoor therapy space, and accessible wandering paths. In addition, each building has a hospitality suite for family members of residents that are in palliative care, a salon, a family celebration room, a multi-purpose room, and a spiritual room.

Videos showing views from inside and outside the homes are available in the Learn More section below.

Over the course of construction, almost 90 per cent of the people who worked on the two construction sites combined were from Newfoundland and Labrador.

The buildings are the second and third long-term care homes to open in the province in three years. The 120 beds represent a portion of 285 new beds that have opened in the province since 2020, including a 145-bed long-term care home in Corner Brook and a 20-bed expansion of the protective care unit in Botwood.

The contract with NL Healthcare Partners to design, build, finance and maintain the two buildings is worth approximately $112 million (net present value), and covers a 30-year period.

The new homes are part of approximately $1.4 billion in active infrastructure projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, including:

Six new mental health and addictions beds at the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
18 new beds at the Labrador Correctional Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
102 beds at a new adult mental health and addictions facility in St. John’s; and
164 beds at a new hospital in Corner Brook.

Quotes
“The 120 new beds in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor, along with the 20 protective care beds in Botwood, mean that seniors in the region will have high quality care in modern buildings. As work continues on a new hospital in Corner Brook, a new adult mental health and addictions hospital in St. John’s, and a new mental health care unit in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, our government is continuing work to improve access and services for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Our government’s investments in infrastructure are leading to modern healthcare buildings throughout the province. We are thrilled to see the completion of these homes that will complement existing services in each community and help meet the need for long-term care in Central Newfoundland.
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“I am pleased to see the new, long-term care homes in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor ready to be opened and accept residents. This is another example of our commitment to providing all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with quality, respectful, and compassionate health care through all stages of life.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services

“The completion of these new facilities shows the commitment of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Central Health in recognizing to respond to healthcare needs in Central Newfoundland. These two modern facilities extends our long-term care capacity and will further create capacity for residents in the region who require acute care services. Staff are excited about the new buildings as the new atmosphere with a state-of-the-art layout, new equipment, and pleasurable dining experience is designed to create positive resident experiences.”
Don Sturge
Chair of the Board of Trustees of Central Health