Canadian Mortgage News

January 2007 National News Archive

$5.4M Completes Seniors’ Campus of Care in Parksville

PARKSVILLE, British Columbia, January 26, 2007 — Federal, provincial and community funding partners gathered today to celebrate the completion of Cokely Manor, a $5.4 million facility conversion and upgrade that provides 30 affordable, assisted living units for Parksville area seniors.

The development completes a full campus of care that includes assisted living housing, an adult day program, and complex care at the adjacent 75-bed facility, Arrowsmith Lodge. The new 30 assisted living suites are all wheelchair accessible and allow seniors to live independently in apartment-style living and replace obsolete, intermediate care units.

"Canada's New Government is committed to providing housing solutions for seniors, so that they can continue to live in their communities with dignity and independence,” said James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo – Alberni, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. "Seniors in Parksville now have more access to quality, affordable housing to meet their specific needs.”

Cokely Manor is a partnership between the Arrowsmith Rest Home Society and the federal and provincial governments through the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program, as well as the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the City of Parksville.

“This government believes in community partnerships that provide seniors with independent lifestyles, affordable housing and access to all support services,” said Ron Cantelon, MLA for Nanaimo – Parksville. “This campus of care will provide a full spectrum of housing and care needs for Parksville area seniors as their needs change.”

ILBC is an innovative housing-for-health program that meets the needs of lower-income seniors and people with disabilities by providing a middle option between home support and residential care. Assisted living units are self-contained apartments where residents receive meals, housekeeping and laundry services, a 24-hour response system, and assistance with medications. The Vancouver Island Health Authority is providing annual funding for personal care services at Cokely Manor.

“Assisted living offers a more tailored approach to addressing seniors’ housing and personal care needs,” said Mike Conroy, CEO of the Vancouver Island Health Authority. “The care we provide at Cokely Manor will help us to better meet the health needs of our Island community seniors.”

Added Parksville Mayor Sandra Herle, “These new homes will help Parksville and area seniors stay in the community they helped build, close to family and friends. The new addition of assisted living housing to this campus of care will add richly to the lives of our seniors.”

The housing development is owned and managed by the Arrowsmith Rest Home Society. The Society has operated a facility on the site since 1971.

"The Society's purpose is to enhance the care and housing options available to residents of the Parksville – Qualicum community," said Anne Duggan, Arrowsmith Rest Home Society President. "Cokely Manor is another step in the fulfilment of our purpose. The Society is pleased with the quality of this project and proud of the level of comfort, companionship and safe shelter being provided to the tenants."

The Province of British Columbia, through ILBC, is committed to providing more than 4,000 affordable assisted living apartments for B.C. seniors and persons with disabilities. To date, more than 3,900 have been allocated in communities across the province. These units are part of the government’s commitment to provide 5,000 intermediate and long-term care beds by 2008.

Canada’s New Government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will contribute more than $130 million by 2010 towards affordable housing in this province. The provincial government, through BC Housing, will provide a minimum of $34 million annually to subsidize the cost of units built under the Canada-BC Affordable Housing Agreement, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing options for British Columbians in greatest need.

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Backgrounder

Cokely Manor

Cokely Manor, 266A South Moilliet Street in Parksville, houses 30 (22 studio and 8 one-bedroom) subsidized assisted living units. All the assisted living units in the single-storey wood frame building are wheelchair accessible. Cokely Manor is part of a campus of care which includes an on-site adult day program and neighbouring 75-bed complex care facility named Arrowsmith Lodge. The units opened to residents in Fall 2006.

Tenants receive two meals a day, weekly housekeeping and linen services, 24-hour emergency response, personal care services and social and recreational opportunities.

The Arrowsmith Rest Home Society was formed in 1969 to address the need for housing and care options for Parksville and Qualicum area seniors. The society owns and manages Cokely Manor along with Arrowsmith Lodge, and also manages the on-site adult day program. The society has owned and operated the original facility since its opening in 1971.

The capital cost of this project is $5,351,463 with funding provided through these partners:

• $245,496 capital grant from the federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In addition, CMHC mortgage loan insurance facilitated financing of this project.
• $2.9 million over 25 years in housing subsidies and a $504,504 capital grant from the Province through BC Housing;
• $394,000 annually from the Vancouver Island Health Authority for personal care services;
• Tax-free status from the City of Parksville; and
• $1,527,800 in land equity from the Arrowsmith Rest Home Society.

News source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)