Foyer Maillard officially open in the Tri-Cities with more beds for seniors

COQUITLAM – Seniors with complex care needs in the Tri-Cities now have a new option for a long term care home. The Foyer Maillard facility completed its redevelopment and now comprises 125 beds for seniors, an increase of 80 beds compared to the previous facility.

“Seniors in our community need a place to call home, with quality care supports as they age,” said Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Linda Reimer. “Foyer Maillard is a beautiful new facility that provides residents with a modern, home-like atmosphere including access to a variety of services to support the care they need.”

The new residence has nine neighbourhoods – each equipped with bathing facilities, a dining room, resident lounge and activity space, quiet room and access to the outdoors. All resident rooms are single bedrooms with their own washroom. The building also has a beauty salon, a multi-denominational spiritual space, and beautifully landscaped and secure yard for residents, family, friends, volunteers and staff.

“Today marks an exciting step for the expansion of long term care services that will benefit families in the Tri-Cities and across Fraser Health,” said Michael Marchbank, president and CEO, Fraser Health. “As we continue to focus on investing in health care in our communities, facilities such as Foyer Maillard are an integral part in supporting seniors to live well.”

Foyer Maillard is the only care facility in British Columbia offering French language long-term care services that allow residents to receive culturally and linguistically-centred care.

“The Société du Foyer Maillard, a non-profit registered charity, is proud and pleased to be offering complex care services in our community in such a modern facility. We are grateful for the support of the Fraser Health Authority both in funding and professional services and for the financial services of BC Housing. None of which would have been possible without the extreme dedication of our members, Board of Directors and facility staff and of course the community of Maillardville,”said Jean Riou, board president.

Through BC Housing, the B.C. government arranged approximately $25 million in mortgage financing for the project, Société du Foyer Maillard provided over $4.1 million in equity, and Fraser Health will provide over $8.2 million in annual operating funds.

The Tri-Cities was identified in 2013 as one of four communities across the region in need of increased long term care capacity due to rapid growth in the senior’s population. The 80 new beds is part of an investment to build 403 new long term care beds in the Tri-Cities, Surrey and White Rock. Foyer Maillard was one of the successful proponents in the Tri-Cities for new long term care beds.

Guided by the Ministry of Health’s strategic priorities, Fraser Health is implementing its “Increasing Quality and Capacity for Care” plan, which aims to improve the quality and appropriateness of care, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and shift the organization towards a community-based system for health. The plan reorganizes Fraser Health resources, realigning funding from acute care and towards expanding community care services and programs and long term care beds.