The Mount Continuing Care Community will be operating a new 60-bed long-term care facility once its construction is complete. The province will be funding the construction of the new Cornwall facility through a $77 million, 30-year agreement. Photo by Stu Neatby/The Guardian /FileArticle contentThe P.E.I. government has signed 30-year agreements that appear to lock the province into funding $179 million for the construction of two private long-term care facilities in Summerside and Cornwall.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThese agreements are in addition to more than $17 million of combined yearly additional operating funding that will be provided by the province once both facilities are built.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentIn a statement to The Guardian, Marla Morrison, a representative of the office of Premier Rob Lantz, said the province will spend $2.5 million annually to fund construction of a new 60-bed nursing home in Summerside, which will be operated by Enhanced Living.Article contentMorrison also said $3.4 million will be spent annually to support the construction of a new long-term care home in Cornwall, which will be operated by the Mount Continuing Care Community.Article contentArticle contentRelatedArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentThe funding arrangement are part of two 30-year agreements, Morrison said.Article contentThis adds up $179 million in provincial funding for the two facilities over 30 years, Morrison confirmed.Article contentBoth facilities are expected to be completed in 2029.Article contentAging populationArticle contentOn top of this funding, the province has said it will provide $7.4 million and $9.8 million in annual funding for the Summerside and Cornwall facilities for accommodation costs after their construction is complete. These amounts are included in the 30-year agreement.Article contentArticle contentLantz and Health Minister Cory Deagle announced the construction of the Summerside facility on Aug. 4 and the Cornwall facility on June 18.Article contentThe Lantz government has said that additional long-term care beds are needed to help move patients out of scarce beds within the province’s two acute care hospitals.Article contentThe 2025 budget included a $21 million funding commitment to add 175 long-term care beds.Article contentThe need for a rapid expansion of long-term care beds was identified in an internal 2021 review of the province’s long-term care homes. That review estimated the province needed to increase its number of long-term care beds from 1,244 to about 1,679 — a 35 per cent increase — by 2025 to keep up with the province’s aging population.Article contentThe review estimated this would have cost $134 million in capital costs, as well as $30 million in annual operating costs as of five years ago.Article contentThe province now says its new investments would increase the number of long-term care beds to 1,465 once they are completed in 2029.
P.E.I. government signs 30-year agreements worth $179 million for new private long-term care homes
