Provincial money means new beds for long-term care residents

The province is spending more than $1 million to buy 180 new beds for long-term care homes in the province.

The beds will replace 130 existing at Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown and 40 at Wedgewood Manor in Summerside, P.E.I.

Ten will be new bariatric beds for obese patients, which will be distributed to long-term care homes across the province.

Reduce extended stays in hospital

Those beds will allow Health PEI to expand specialized services to some facilities, which should eliminate some extended stays in hospital.

Most beds we are talking about 15 or 20 years, some of these beds are 30 years, since they have been replaced.- RobertHenderson, Minister of Health and Wellness

"One of the realities is the beds have been long past their life expectancy," said Robert Henderson, Minister of Health and Wellness.

"Most beds we are talking about 15 or 20 years, some of these beds are 30 years, since they have been replaced."

"The technology has been advanced. Some of these beds have the technology to lift them easier and get patients in and out of those beds which reduces the stress on staff."

Beach Grove Home is celebrating its 30th anniversary this week.

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