Misericordia makes room for new assisted-living centre

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/08/2020 (1358 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Clawing at the exterior walls of the former Misericordia Education and Resource Centre, an excavator began the demolition of the building Thursday in preparation of construction of a new assisted-living centre.

“We’re really excited. We’re moving forward with an exciting project for assisted living,” said Caroline DeKeyster, Misericordia Health Centre president and chief executive officer.

“Looking at what the community needs are and what older adults need, housing is a definite one. The demand for assisted living and independent living in the community is big right throughout Canada, Winnipeg, and this particular area doesn’t have that.”

DeKeyster said demolition should finish by the end of September or early October; construction of the assisted living centre at the 691 Wolseley Ave. site is to begin right after. Work on the new 10-storey, 97-room building will take about two years.

As Misericordia is non-profit, DeKeyster said the new housing will be more affordable once available.

“We will be offering assisted living at 20 per cent below the comparable assisted living sites,” she said. “We’re trying really hard to target even lower than that, to have at least 30 per cent of those suites be at affordable levels… 30 per cent less in terms of rates… People that really need it have it, and it’s a safe space to be.”

kellen.taniguchi@freepress.mb.ca