Home and community care complex proposed for old Schomberg Arena

November 12, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Angela Gismondi
A proposal has been made to re-purpose the Schomberg Agricultural Arena and Community Centre.
Caregiver Omnimedia has submitted a proposal for the King Institute of Home and Community Care Complex. A report on the matter was presented at the committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 4.
Don Fenn, president and CEO of Caregiver Omnimedia, said the project is innovative and unique to King.
“It’s a Canadian first,” said Fenn. “We are here today to ask the council to allow staff to collaborate with us to create a much-needed asset for King. While the project is not fully designed, we have assembled an excellent team to bring this to life with community support.”
It’s not a done deal just yet, but the council has authorized staff to enter into negotiations with the company regarding the additional terms and conditions for a potential agreement.
The King Institute of Home and Community Care would be divided into five zones: the community care and medical building, memory care (for those living with memory impairment), transitional care, community space and parking.
The vision for the project is to create an integrated community health clinic and transitional care community, professional research and academic centre of excellence and a new care technology research centre. It will offer affordable living and care models for seniors in need of transitional care. The transitional care community is designed to help older adults coping with multiple chronic conditions and health risks to transition from acute care from a hospital to home, or from a hospital to long-term care, this is where they will need certified medical equipment at their homes to help with the transition such as a home Hospital Bed.
According to the proposal presented to council, it would be “for those in need of alternative levels of care who currently occupy a hospital bed but no longer require the intensity of resources and services provided, but still require alternative care and living support in their community.”
Care services would be provided by a third party national provider. The complex will provide a needs-based care model which will be customized to each patient. There will also be 24/7/365 nursing and memory care services offered based on demand.
Local Councillor Bill Cober is concerned that the Schomberg Agricultural Society will not have access to the old arena and the grounds for next year’s spring fair.
“Our Schomberg Agricultural Society is going to want to engage in dialogue about this in the interim stages,” said Cober.
He asked that council amend the recommendations to include that Caregiver Omnimedia collaborate with the Schomberg Agricultural Society to provide access for the 2014 fair.
Township CAO Susan Plamondon said the same might not be possible for 2015, as the project may be under way by then.
“It is entirely possible that in 2015 the site may be under construction and it might not be available,” said Plamondon.
Fenn said the company is willing to work with the Agricultural Society and the community.
“You probably know me as a pretty fair guy,” he said. “This will be built by the community, for the community. We have to have the involvement of the total community in order to go ahead. We want the Schomberg Fair.”
Staff will begin negotiations with the proponent to discuss land use planning requirements, financing, length and terms of an agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and site concept/layout. Following negotiations, staff will report back to council with further recommendations.