After more than five years of planning the Mattawa area will get a new nursing home.
The Algonquin Nursing Home / Mattawa Hospital received a “Notice of Approval” letter from Dipika Damerla, the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care today approving their submission to build a new 72 bed Long Term Care Home in Mattawa.
"It's fantastic," President and CEO Jeremy Stevenson told BayToday. "The biggest piece of the puzzle was actually getting approval from the ministry to go ahead and rebuild the home on the same site integrated with the hospital. That letter is huge news for us. We've been waiting for five years and people think it's a done deal but you can never seal the deal until you get the letter in front of us.
"We've had incredible support. We'll now officially set the process to rebuild this home."
Stevenson added, “It was back in 2010 when previous administration, board, staff, physicians and our Local Health Integration Network had the vision to integrate the long term care home with the hospital to continually improve the quality of care and services in our community. I pray I can be an instrument in helping make this vision a reality”.
Board Chair, Wayne Powell feels it will play an important role in the government’s commitment to support the redevelopment of so many homes across the Province.
"But more importantly the community of Mattawa and surrounding area will benefit greatly from this new building. It will provide the residents with an improved quality of life in home-like living environments with accommodations built to current standards.”
Stevenson credits the efforts and hard work from the board, staff, and physicians, and from the previous administration to their current team.
"A special thank you for all the support from the Sisters of Charity, the North East LHIN and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care who have always supported this need and vision. And to all our local mayors who share this vision and tirelessly endeavour to see a new home built for the residents of these communities and townships."
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli added his congratulations.
"Congrats to the Team -- to the management, staff, physicians, and Board -- past and present -- and to the local mayors who all shared this vision and tirelessly endeavoured to see a new home built for the residents of their communities and townships. Well done everyone -- nice to see it all come together!"
