Pembroke — Marianhill, a faith based not-for-profit long-term-care home, has launched an ambitious $2 million community fundraising campaign in preparation for a re-development which will see the facility increase in capacity from 131 beds to 160.
“We have been approved to redevelop and we really need to fundraise to do this program,” CEO Linda Tracey explained. “We are adding an 88-bed addition and renovating three other wings.”
This will not only increase the number of beds available at the not-for-profit facility, but also make the available beds conform to more current standards. Although not a very old building, the current facility is seeing residents entering with different needs, as all long-term care homes are, she explained. The residents have more mobility issues, for example, including wheelchairs, so renovations to adapt to this are necessary in 2019.
The plans include a two-storey addition onto the existing D wing and renovations of the existing wings. All this will be done in stages so residents will be able to live in the facility.
Along with the new beds, the board has agreed 50 per cent of those beds will be basic subsidized long-term care spaces. This means more space for those with less ability to pay. Although long-term care is part of the provincial health care coverage, access to the beds can be very lengthy for basic accommodation. Mrs. Tracey explained while the wait for a basic bed would be about three years, the wait for preferred accommodation is significantly less. These new subsidized beds should help shorten that three-year wait for many people. They are designed for people with a basic income, so they can get the subsidy.
The fundraising project is called Building Care. It speaks to increasing Mariahill’s capacity for quality care-giving and human dignity.
Marianhill is a faith-centred home. The charitable, not-for-profit and faith based home was built as part of the original Pembroke General Hospital (now Pembroke Regional Hospital) complex.
“That legacy has created an environment where everyone is welcome,“ she said.
The original Marianhill opened in 1954. The current building is the second Marianhill to serve the community and was built in 1980. Unfortunately, although not a very old building, it is in immediate need of renovation.
“It does not meet the standard expected by seniors or their families,” she said.
Mrs. Tracey said the board is hopeful the public will respond generously to the fundraising campaign.
“Being able to ask the community for support is fundamental,“ she said. “This is a special project.“
Susan Foran, the director of finance for Marianhill, explained the project is a $24.6 million initiative. There will be a significant mortgage as part of this, she added.
“We need to raise $2 million,” she said. “The more we raise, it reduces the mortgage.”
The building must be built before the Ministry of Health and Long-Term-Care pays a per diem amount which contributes to the mortgage, she said. There is also some seed money.
Although the funding has to be in place for the project, plans are beginning for imminent construction.
“We are quite confident in the community support, so the tender document will go out in the fall,” Mrs. Tracey said.
$2 Million Goal
The announcement of funding for the new beds was made last fall and now preparations are beginning for the construction. However, part of the component is the fundraising effort. The $2 million goal is something which they see as achievable.
Hec Clouthier, well-known in the area for his time as MP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke and his colourful Give Em Hec campaign, has taken on the role as chair of the fundraising campaign. When asked to take part in the campaign and play a key leadership role, he said the decision was an easy one for him.
“The Marianhill board agree that 50 per cent of these new beds will be subsidized beds,” he noted. “We don’t hold it against seniors if they don’t have the money and they need a bed.”
Helping those who contributed so much to the community and this area is important, he said.
“We are looking after the people who really need the help,” he said.
The plan, which includes an enclosed courtyard, will make their final years more comfortable ones, Mr. Clouthier stressed.
The Marianhill Foundation started in 1997 and is comprised of volunteers who are giving to their community as a fundraising arm for Marianhill, he said.
“They have done a great job with the foundation,” he said.
Marianhill is also a cognisant employer in the area, which also has a strong volunteer base, he said.
“Marianhill can be looked upon as a great corporate citizen,” he said.
Increasing Need
Mr. Clouthier said there will be more and more need for long-term-care and the new beds are helping meet that need.
“The reality is we are getting older,” he said. “Seniors that need that 24-hour care and need the compassionate care will receive it here.”
Joining the campaign and fundraising for the $2 million is to help those seniors, he stressed.
“We will go as far as we need to reach the goal,” he said.
After this launch, the fundraising team is asking people in the community to join with Marianhill in supporting the initiative. More information can be found through email subscriptions and members of the fundraising effort are willing to speak to community groups as well.
“Perhaps others will be interested in doing fundraising,” he said. “We are hoping community support will grow.”
There is currently a waiting list of 160 for a long-term bed at Marianhill. Currently, only about 40 per cent of the rooms are subsidized, and the wait is longest for those rooms.
Mrs. Tracey noted the wait for preferred accommodation is about one year, but the subsidized room wait is three years.
“And a lot of our admissions are crisis,” she said.
Mr. Clouthier added Marianhill does so many wonderful outreach programs too, as well as offering respite beds, hospice beds and palliative care.
“If anyone, a church, a community group, a service organization, anyone wants information, we will go there and explain this,” he said. “This is a great project.”
Adding he is always moved by stories he hears about the compassionate care at Marianhill, he said this is part of helping each other.
“If I can help them with their redevelopment program and help people, I want to be a part of that,” he said.
Foundation Chair Glenn Casey said Marianhill is the type of organization he wants to be involved with.
“My mother used the palliative care in 2000,” he said. “My grandmother is a resident here. It is the care she gets. It is the level of care the residents receive.”
Mr. Clouthier said this is about helping the most vulnerable.
“It all comes back to giving back to the people who built this county,” he said. “A lot of seniors face challenges and if we can alleviate those challenges, why not help?”
For more information go to marrianhill.ca and sign up for regular updates on the redevelopment project. All personal or business donations will receive a tax receipt.