Construction of the new 225-bed long term care facility in Swift Current is nearing completion and plans for moving staff and residents into the new facility are well underway.  A three phase transition approach is being implemented to ensure that all residents are comfortably moved into their new homes beginning in early June.

The health region has assembled a transition committee to oversee the entire move-in process.  The committee, made up of various health care providers including nursing staff, social workers, management, supporting staff, and others, is overseeing each of the move’s three phases.

The first existing facility to move into the new Swift Current Long Term Care facility will be the Prairie Pioneers Lodge (PPL). All PPL residents, plus an additional 10 residents from the Swift Current and Palliser Regional Care Centres, will be moving into the new facility on Sunday, June 5. Remaining residents of the Swift Current Care Centre will move on Sunday, August 7 and the Palliser Regional Care Centre will complete its move on Sunday, September 18.  Sundays were carefully selected as the most appropriate date so that, where possible, family members may be present to assist their loved ones.

“We are very excited to begin to transition into this beautiful new facility, which we know will be such a significant improvement for residents and staff when compared to our existing long term care facilities in Swift Current,” said Brenda Schwan, Vice President of Continuing Care and Capital Project Lead for the Cypress Health Region.  “Our transition committee has been working hard since early in the year to develop a move-in plan that will make sense for the region, but that will also align with the wishes of our residents and their families. Moving in three phases is an important step being taken to make sure that our move goes as smoothly as possible.”

Each phase will see approximately 60 residents move into one of three total neighborhoods.  The health region is making direct contact with residents and family members to discuss move-in plans and provide information regarding more specific processes, such as phone/TV transfers and mail forwarding.

“We are working hard to provide as much information as possible in advance of the move-in dates.  We know how disruptive it is for anyone to move into a new home, which is also the case for our long term care residents moving into their new homes.  The more organized we can be prior to moving in, the better the transition will be for everyone,” added Schwan.

Family members with questions about the move-in and transition process are being asked to speak with their facility’s social worker.  Updated construction and transition details will also be posted on the Cypress Health website as they become available.