New Grove move-in ready by late summer

ARNPRIOR – The warmer weather is on its way and the new Grove Nursing Home remains on target to open in late summer 2021.

“The Grove construction shovels went in the ground in November 2019 and today the finish line is in sight,” Arnprior Regional Health (ARH) President and CEO Eric Hanna said. “Throughout the pandemic, construction has continued with safety protocols in place. As we count down to moving day, the completion of the new Grove is an incredible milestone for our residents, families, staff, and the whole community.”

The construction is now more than 85 per cent complete and the current activities include:

• Completing the courtyard
• Finalizing the drywall installation
• Ongoing electrical work
• Continuing interior painting
• Completing the exterior siding installation

In addition to the construction led by McDonald Brother Construction of West Carleton, the Grove team is focused on the planning and logistics for moving day, helping to ensure residents have a comfortable and smooth transition to their new home, and the recruitment plan to meet the needs of the expanded long-term care residence.

“Our whole Grove community is looking forward to the move to our new home that will give us the expanded, modern facility to accommodate infection prevention and control best practices and allow us to evolve our person-centred model of care that will support even more residents,” ARH vice president Long-Term Care and administrator Judith Gilchrist said. “Right now, our team is focused on engaging residents and families in the transition to the new home so that it is meaningful, comfortable and welcoming.”

The new Grove embraces a community-style of living and is organized in three resident home areas (i.e. neighbourhoods) each with its own dining room, living room, single bedrooms and two-bed rooms and a dedicated care team. This winter, the Grove team engaged residents and families in helping to choose the names and themes for the resident home areas and shared living spaces. Residents and families voted for their favourite naming theme and the forest theme was the overwhelming winner. The resident home areas will be named Maple Avenue, Oak Crescent and Pine Lane and this theme will also be incorporated into some of the final design including the interior signage.

“You can feel the excitement building at the Grove as we put the plans in place for our big move to the residents’ new home,” Gilchrist said.