Redeveloped Foyer Richelieu Welland will bring 128 much-needed long-term care beds and 10 hospice beds to the province
WELLAND — Construction is underway at the new Foyer Richelieu Welland, a long-term care home in the Niagara Region. This is part of the Ontario government’s $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds across the province. The home is one of 39 long-term care projects in development across the province where services for Francophone residents will be provided.
“Congratulations to Foyer Richelieu Welland on their ground-breaking for a brand new, 128-bed home. Our government is fixing long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today marks a significant milestone for Foyer Richelieu Welland. It’s also an important day for Ontario’s Francophone community as Foyer Richelieu will offer all 128 beds to Francophone residents so they can receive care in French that is tailored to their cultural and language needs.”
Foyer Richelieu Welland is expected to finish construction and start welcoming its first residents in summer 2025. The redeveloped home will provide 66 new and 62 upgraded beds in private, semi-private and basic rooms. The new building will feature design improvements, including larger resident common areas and air conditioning throughout the home. The design is centred around ‘resident home areas’ that aim to create more intimate and familiar living spaces for up to 32 residents, with dining and activity areas, lounges and bedrooms.
The redevelopment of Foyer Richelieu Welland is enabled by the ministry’s Not-For-Profit Loan Guarantee Program. Securing capital development loans has been a long-standing barrier faced by the not-for-profit long-term care sector. The program helps unlock lending and reduces borrowing costs for eligible non-municipal, not-for-profit long-term care development projects – and ensures that Ontario’s seniors will have access to a range of choices for their long-term care needs.
The Ontario government is also providing up to $4.6 million to Hospice Niagara for a new 10-bed residential hospice co-located with Foyer Richelieu Welland. Construction is expected to start in spring 2023 and be completed in winter 2024/25.
Ontario is supporting another 12 long-term care projects in the Niagara Region, including the development of homes in St Catharines, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Together, these 13 projects will provide 810 new and 1,541 upgraded long-term care beds, for a total of 2,351 beds built to modern design standards.
The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors experience the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve, both now and in the future. The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.