Despite announcing Feb. 14, 2022 that it would be bringing a new long-term care home to Haliburton County – and Extendicare being mentioned at an Aug. 25 Dysart et al council meeting as a “possible” tenant for the new County Road 21 development – the company declined to comment on any developments when contacted by The Highlander last week.
A spokesperson told the paper, “with the developments at council having just happened earlier this week, we don’t have a comment ready to share at this time. It’s possible that may change in the future.”
At last week’s meeting, Dysart et al council elected to move forward with its planned residential and community development on CR 21, endorsing a preferred concept and vision for the municipal lands.
Consultants from The Biglieri Group pointed to a block earmarked for a longterm care home and mentioned Extendicare by name.
“The long-term care block we have been discussing with potential tenants, Extendicare … and this is a block that works for size. So, originally there was a request for six acres and we brought it up to 8.35 acres, so it’s a bit bigger, it’s flatter; it can be developed,” the consultants said.
Another reference was an ask “to accommodate detailed design work between the possible tenant for the long-term care facility to give them the opportunity to have flexibility in that regard.”
On Feb. 14, 2022 there was a press conference to announce a new $41 million, 128-bed, state-of-the-art long-term care home for Haliburton County. A location was not announced. However, since Extendicare has an existing long-term care home in Haliburton, it was anticipated they would remain in the village.
Then minister of long-term care, Paul Calandra, Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock MPP Laurie Scott, Extendicare president and CAO Michael Guerriere, and then County warden Liz Danielsen spoke during the press conference.
“The Haliburton project will enable us to replace our current facility and build a brand new 128-room long-term care home, more than doubling our current capacity in the community,” Guerriere said at the time.
He added it would feature state-of-the-art design standards, “to meet the current and future needs of seniors.”
According to the president and CAO, it would equate to more space to connect with loved ones, increased privacy and comfort; be more conducive to resident quality of life; have enhanced resident activity areas and flexible space for restorative and palliative services.
“Extendicare is committed to serving seniors in this region long into the future,” he said.
