This project addresses an urgent gap in seniors housing and health services for Ontario First Nations by providing an opportunity for elders to age in their community, close to their loved ones. With 128 Long-Term Care (LTC) beds, it will be the largest on-reserve LTC home in Ontario.
Snyder Architects is working with the Mowhawks of the Bay of Quinte (MBQ) to develop a LTC model to address community-specific health challenges in the context of Covid-19 and enhanced IPAC measures. The design features 32-bed Residential Home Areas (RHA) divided into smaller wings of 8-12 private rooms, multiple flexible gathering areas – both inside and out, and enhanced HVAC and natural ventilation. Sanitation zones are located at transitions between public and increasingly private areas.
The new home is centred around feature community spaces including an adult day centre and indoor and outdoor gathering areas. All resident rooms and common areas have a connection to the surrounding landscape, which features Indigenous gardens and plantings, habitat for species at risk, and areas of archaeological finds.