Long-term care beds in Wellington will keep francophones closer to their culture

TheChez-Nouscommunity care facility in Wellington, P.E.I.,will beundergoing a large expansion, after getting a promise of 12 long-term care beds from the province.

EdgarArsenault, manager atLaCooprativeLeChez-NousLte,says the facilityhas beenlobbying the province for six years to add nursing care to the facilities existing 47 community care beds.

"It's really exciting for the community," he said.

"Where people will be able to stay in their community and keep living with their families, their community and ... still have their culture and language in use on a daily basis."

Chez-Nousis planning a two-storey, 4,000square foot expansion with 12 rooms for the bedsand a seniors' activity centre.

Arsenaultsaid the activity centrewill be a place forseniors to socialize, watch concerts and take part ineducational sessions.

"We are all set up bilingually. We serve the seniorsin the language of their choicebut French is ... almost 99 per centof the activities," Arsenault said.

The announced long-term care beds for the facility will allow seniors who are as far away as Crapaud and Clinton to come back to the areaand have nursingcare in French.

"You choose your number one priorityof where you want to go if you need nursing beds but from what I understand you can also ask for transfers," Arsenaultsaid.

"I can imagine there is lots of francophones and Acadiansin the manors now that will probably be asking for a transfer."

He expects nine more staff will be hired to accommodate the new expansion beyond the 27 already working there.

The new beds and seniors' activity centre are expected to open in June 2019.

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With files from Laura Chapin