Providence Living – Quesnel

Providence Living – Quesnel

Special guests gather at an event announcing new care homes in Smithers and Quesnel.

New long-term care home coming to Quesnel

Seniors in Quesnel will have greater access to care closer to home with the approval of a new long-term care home, which will bring more than 220 new publicly funded beds to the community.

“The new long-term care home in Quesnel marks another step forward in our commitment to providing high-quality care for our growing population of seniors in British Columbia,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This new home will enable seniors to age with dignity in a community they know, close to family and friends.”

The new home will add 221 new beds and replace 67 beds from Dunrovin Park Lodge, for a total of 288 beds. The home will be located on land provided by the City of Quesnel. It will be built and operated by Providence Living in partnership with Northern Health under a project development agreement. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in fall 2026 following the design phase and is expected to be ready for residents in late 2028.

Speakers at the Providence Living announcement included (L-R): Scott McCarten, Vice President, Capital Projects & Business Development, Providence Living; Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs; and Chief Timberwolf, Mabel Forsythe, Wet’suwet’en.

“Seniors are a crucial part of our communities and it is up to us to ensure they receive the best possible care,” said Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-Term Care. “This new long-term care home in Quesnel will strengthen care for seniors. It will be a safe, welcoming place where seniors are able to receive the quality care they need while remaining active in the community they call home.”

The home will be designed as households, each accommodating 12 residents, with every resident having a private single-bed room and bathroom. It will include social and recreational spaces typical of a home, such as living rooms, dining rooms, activity areas and access to outdoor spaces.

“Seniors in Quesnel will greatly benefit from this addition of beds to their community,” said Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health. “This new long-term care home will allow people to age with dignity, close to their loved ones, and it is one example of how we are delivering for people in rural and remote areas.”

The new long-term care home will also offer a 32-space adult day program designed to support older adults living independently at home. The program will provide social connection, engaging activities, exercise and health checks for seniors facing health challenges, ensuring they can maintain their independence while receiving essential services to support their health and well-being.

Long-term care homes provide care for people with complex-care needs who can no longer live safely and independently at home, and who require 24-hour supervision for a range of services delivered by well-trained staff.

To meet growing demand, government has invested approximately $3.5 billion since 2018-19 to expand and improve quality care for seniors in British Columbia, including investments in primary care, home health, long-term care and assisted living.