The Ontario government has approved Arch Long-Term Care's application to move 75 long-term care beds from Tilbury to Belle River.
The company is building a new 160 bed home in Belle River that is expected to open at the end of 2024.
MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington Rick Nicholls' office confirmed the 75 licenses in Tilbury will expire in three years and that the current building will not support new licenses under the new long-term care regulations, adding that the home contains wards (consisting of up to four people per room) as opposed to private rooms.
"I am sensitive to the concerns of the families of the residents," said Nicholls. "For that reason, I have initiated calls with another private company that owns property in the Tilbury area to see if they might have an interest in approaching the Ministry of Long-Term Care in order to build a new long-term care facility in Tilbury. At this point in time, it is too early to speculate as to their intentions."
Nicholls said Arch is also "open to suggestions as to repurposing the existing structure" adding that "discussions have taken place with the municipality [of Chatham-Kent], but at this time nothing has been finalized."
According to Nicholls, Arch Long-Term Care's plan includes offering all current residents a bed in the new facility in Belle River at their current rate. Employees will also be offered a position in the new home.
Many residents have voiced concerns over leaving the rural community without a long-term care home, citing concerns it will lead to more social isolation for their loved ones and discourage people from moving to the region.
On Tuesday, Ontario NDP joined the Tilbury Area Action Team in the fight to keep the beds at Tilbury Manor. Public consultation on the application closed on July 4, 2021.
