New assisted living spaces are coming to parts of the Rainy River District.
Riverside Health Care says it has received approval to create seven new spots in Fort Frances, ten in Rainy River and for the first time, eleven in Emo.
Director of Community Services Dave Black says the exact location is still under discussion.
“We are exploring opportunities right now with allied agencies to look at where we can place the new units,” says Black.
“What we’ve done in the past for the Rainy River District is work with allied agencies that already provide housing services to designate a certain number of units to the assisted living program.”
Assisted living services are mostly geared towards high-risk seniors and adults with acquired brain injuries or physical disabilities.
Black says the level of service a person receives is dependent upon an assessment by representatives from Ontario Health at Home, the agency set up to coordinate home and community care, long-term care placement and finding services for people in their community.
There are now 36 assisted living spaces across the district from Atikokan to Rainy River.
Black says the added 28 are needed.
“The Rainy River District has some of the most senior populations from across the province, and are generally near or at the top of that demographic.”
“Currently, there are wait lists in Fort France. With the introduction of assisted living units to Emo, I anticipate a waitlist there as well.”
Black says they hope to have the spaces available by the end of next March.
