And then there were two: Providence Living constructing a second long-term care village

Providence Living at the Rivers: Long-term care village, Prince George

Opening in 2028, help us bring an innovative LTC village to Prince George. This publicly funded resource will be for 200 residents organized in 16 households, each containing 12 single rooms. Most importantly, the focus will be on the social-relational model of care, ensuring that, in addition to high-quality medical care, the residents also have autonomy, dignity, and joy during this phase of their lives. Donate today through Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. 

What is a Long-Term Care Village

Long-term care (LTC) village is based on the lessons and best practices in dementia care. It was first pioneered in the Netherlands and is known today as the de Hogeweyk care concept. Here, the built environment and model of care are designed to support residents as if they were living in a home in a small village. The intention is to create an environment where people who require more complex medical support as they age can be supported, but with minimal disruptions to their way of living. Think less institutional hospital living and more community living. The emphasis is on autonomy, independence, and quality of life for residents, visitors, and staff.

What is it like at the Providence Living at The Views in Comox

In July 2024, Providence Living opened its first and Canada’s first publicly funded long-term care village in Comox, BC. The LTC village includes an innovative care model, Home for Us. It also features various amenities, including a grocery store, a hair salon, a fitness centre, and a bistro run by a former care aide and a chef. If you visit the Providence Living at The Views village in Comox, you might meet care aides, Brenda and Stu, who both shared with us that they wished they had always worked in this model of care. The social-relational model of care is resident-centred, but it is also a significant shift for staff.  During your visit, you might stop by the bistro for a coffee and a snack, where Tara, a former high-tea chef at the Empress in Victoria and a care aide, whips up delicious goodies for residents and visitors. One of the more popular items on the menu is her turkey dinner sandwich, which Tara makes with a jam made by Stu, who we mentioned is a care aide and a Red Seal chef.

Long-Term Care Village Coming to Prince George 

We are thrilled to announce that a second long-term village will open in Prince George in 2028. The village will be home to 200 residents and will be a much-needed resource to alleviate the long LTC wait lists. Most importantly, the LTC village will build on learnings in Comox and internationally to design and deliver the best possible model of care that fits the needs of people in the region. The space and model of care will be developed in collaboration with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Northern Health, and other partners. Providence Living has partnered with the Center for Advancing Health Outcomes to help ensure the model effectively addresses the needs of both the local community and health system decision makers. Specifically, the Seniors Care Research group is headed by Dr. Amy Salmon, Conconi Family Foundation Distinguished Scholar in Seniors Care at UBC. Dr. Salmon and her team are supporting Providence Living in gathering critical evidence to support decisions regarding implementing this model of care in Prince George.

It takes a village to build a village, which is why we’d like to invite you to donate and support the fundraising efforts. Seniors living in the Northern region of our Province deserve the best possible long-term care. Let’s make it happen!

Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation is accepting donations for Providence Living at the Rivers. Help us get ready to open the doors to a truly innovative LTC village! Please select the Providence Living Fund as the area you’d like to support.