Southbridge, Extendicare announce partnership to rebuild older homes
Up to 7,000 beds to be managed under Country Village Homes brand
Wednesday January 18, 2012 -- Deb Bartlett
The Southbridge Group and Extendicare have announced a partnership that will see the rebuilding of several long-term care homes.

A media release issued by Southbridge says the company is working towards assembling 199 Class B and Class C beds in homes in Owen Sound, Goderich, Chatsworth and Chesley.

Those homes are in the process of getting Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care licence transfer approval.

Southbridge is also involved in the 104-bed Country Village Health Care Centre being redeveloped in Woodslee.

A long-term partnership agreement has been signed that will see Extendicare manage the homes which will operate under the Country Village Homes brand.

Southbridge president and CEO Geoff Bellew says, “We see a new approach to health care.

“What we want to overlay is a culture of connectivity with the community in the real sense of making the home part of the community,” he says.

He says Southbridge used the language of Country Village “intentionally because we want this to be not the village of 200 years ago, but all of the emotional connections of a village and community.”

The media release says the Southbridge Group plans to acquire and manage up to 7,000 beds, and working within the ministry guidelines and funding programs, will establish plans to redevelop them.

Extendicare will manage all homes acquired by Southbridge.

Extendicare’s regional assistant of business development and business partnerships Christina Co says the partnership is a great opportunity.

She says high-quality care is one of Extendicare’s top priorities, and the company looks forward to “enhancing this high quality of care to more residents in Ontario,”

Co says, “It’s busy times, but also very exciting.”

As the home transitions from current to new owner, Co says there is a process that takes about three months to familiarize staff with Extendicare’s systems.

“We’ve received positive feedback from our current partners in terms of the transition process that we’ve had with them,” she says.

“We try our best in terms of listening and understanding and being patient, because we do understand it’s not easy when it comes to change,” she says.

To comment on this story, contact Deb at 800-294-0051 ext 30, or e-mail deb(at)axiomnews.ca.