New Long-Term Care Home Underway in Durham, Grey County

Durham, Grey County — Construction has begun on a new 128-bed building for Rockwood Terrace, a long-term care home in Durham, thanks to the recently extended Construction Funding Subsidy Top-up program. This initiative is part of the government’s broader commitment to create over 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across Ontario.

“I would like to congratulate Grey County on their groundbreaking of the new Rockwood Terrace long-term care home. Our government is fixing long-term care and ensuring we build homes for seniors in the communities they helped build,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today marks a significant milestone for this community. When construction is complete, 128 residents will have a new, modern, and comfortable place to call home.”

In Durham, Ontario, I held my first-ever groundbreaking as Ontario’s new Minister of Long-Term Care, celebrating the construction start of Rockwood Terrace.

It was a pleasure to join the people of @GreyCounty and my colleague @rickbyersmpp to celebrate their upcoming 128-space… pic.twitter.com/4OqNCcTs8W

— Natalia Kusendova-Bashta (@NatKusendova) June 28, 2024

The new Rockwood Terrace facility will include four Resident Home Areas (RHA) with 32 residents each. The design incorporates 80 private rooms and 24 double rooms, alongside large dining rooms, cognitive stimulation stations, and outdoor walking routes. The construction aims to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly, featuring courtyards and terraces to harmonize with the natural environment.

The extended construction funding subsidy, intended to accelerate the development of long-term care homes in Ontario, has already approved 67 projects between April 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023. This initiative has resulted in 11,199 new and upgraded beds built to modern standards across the province. Rockwood Terrace is one of the latest projects to benefit from this subsidy, with eligibility extended to projects approved for construction by November 30, 2024.

The government’s strategy to improve long-term care focuses on four key pillars: enhancing staffing and care, ensuring quality and enforcement, building modern and safe homes, and providing seniors with quicker, more convenient access to necessary services. This comprehensive plan aims to ensure that Ontario’s seniors receive the high-quality care and life they deserve both now and in the future.