Tens of millions of dollars.
Several years of planning and meetings followed by less than two years of construction.
The ability for aging seniors to stay in their community? Priceless.
The impending and highly anticipated completion of the new Sundre Seniors' Supportive Living Centre will usher in a new era for the community.
Gone will be the days when local seniors faced being forced to choose care over living in the town they have come to love and cherish.
"To be sent to another community for 24-7 care is really unfortunate and hopefully that won't have to occur now, so that's a good news story for us," said Sam Smalldon, chief administrative officer of Mountain View Seniors' Housing, which is a not-for-profit organization representing Mountain View County and the municipalities in the county.
Mental health is a concern for everyone, and seniors are no exception. Maintaining a positive frame of mind is much easier to do when living in a community one has come to know, surrounded by family and friends. But isolation and depression can easily take root at the expense of overall health if a person is forced to move to another place where that individual does not know anyone.
That makes the new facility a major asset for the community, not just in terms of the overall cost ó which is about $26.6 million ó but also as a crucial amenity that will provide a service previously unavailable in Sundre.
The state-of-the-art complex, which will open its doors this summer, sets the bar high in senior care. Sundre is nothing less than fortunate to include the facility on its list of reasons to live out here on the doorstep to the West Country.
"We put quality into the building. We wanted to spend money on the building while we were building it to make sure we had long-lasting quality. Certainly we have a budget we hope we will not exceed, but we will spend the money on the building before it's done to make it the best product possible," said Smalldon.
And residents have only themselves to thank for the new centre, which has been designed as a community for seniors and offers three housing options ó independent, lodge or assisted care and full-time care units.
"It was community driven," Smalldon said about the project.
"This is the result of the community, and I have to say all the municipalities shared the risk, all the municipalities supported this, and they worked together. This is what I say can happen if everybody works together for a good idea ó it's a good project."
See this week's Gazette for a story on the facility's progress.
