The expansion at Rest Haven in Steinbach is expected to significantly shorten wait times.

On Thursday, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister made a stop in Steinbach to officially announce the expansion of that personal care home. The 60 bed facility will grow by 83 beds. It will be constructed next to the existing building and Woodhaven Manor. The current building will be renovated to provide support space.

David Driedger is Chief Executive Officer for HavenGroup. He says initial estimates are that they will break ground this coming fall and for construction to last about two years.

According to Driedger, there is currently about an 18 month wait from the time a senior is panelled to when that individual is moved into Rest Haven. Driedger says following this expansion, the wait time will be relatively short, less than a year.

Driedger refers to Thursday's announcement as momentous. He notes they are extremely grateful to have the Bethesda Foundation as the primary fundraiser in this project.

Dr. Curtis Krahn is a Director with the Bethesda Foundation. He says this will be the largest project in the history of the Foundation. Dr. Krahn says it will have so many meaningful impacts.

"There are a large number of people who are simply in acute care beds in the hospital because there is no place for them to be," says Dr. Krahn. "Now I believe we will have a place for these people to go."

Dr. Krahn says the entire health care system in the region is experiencing a logjam. He notes this is evident in Emergency Rooms and one way to address that, is to move people from the ER to the wards, yet wards are also crowded.

Once complete, Dr. Krahn says the facility will have a great deal of meaning to families who are forced to leave Steinbach to visit loved ones. He notes their home care staff is being forced to tell families that there is no room for their parent in Steinbach.

"I am very happy that when this project is completed, we are, I hope, going to say that less often and I hope not at all," notes Dr. Krahn.

Meanwhile, Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says since being elected into office 15 years ago, the need for more personal care home beds in Steinbach and area has been the number one issue he has heard.

"The life changing event that happens when a loved one, not only has to seek personal care home support but then leave a community to do it," says Goertzen. "I've sat with so many families that were devastated."

Goertzen says he only wishes the announcement could have come sooner.

Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk calls this the biggest and most important announcement of the year for the city. He says not only will it help ensure seniors are able to continue living in the city they call home, but will also provide huge economic benefits to Steinbach. He notes it will mean the hiring of local tradespeople as well as health care workers.

"Let me be clear," says Funk. "This expansion project will benefit all Steinbach residents, not just our seniors."

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