New Alzheimer care centre on the way to Winnipeg

The first step towards construction of a $7.6 million facility dedicated to Alzheimer’s care in Winnipeg kicked off Thursday with a sod-turning.

The project will see the existing 60-bed Alzheimer care facility at the Riverview Health Centre renovated to “meet present day Alzheimer design” and a new building developed on the grounds.

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“This facility will significantly improve the quality of life for our Alzheimer/Dementia residents and we hope that it will create an exciting blueprint for other Health Centres to follow,” Marilyn Kapitany, RHC Board Chair said in a news release.

A large communal zone as well as three smaller “family-sized groups” that will have the ability to be compartmentalized for individual residents will be a part of the new facility.

“Currently they live in lock down units and the purpose of this is to create freedom, independence and enhance the quality of lives through recreation,” Cindy Rodych, project manager said.

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The updates will allow therapeutic and recreational support to be provided to the residents.

According to a RHC news release Thursday, $6 million of the $7.6 million budget has been raised. Construction is expected to begin in August and take two years to complete.