New Facility To Start Receiving Residents Next Week

By 250 News

Prince George,  B.C.- The first of  new residents of the Gateway Seniors complex will  move into their new surroundings September 9^th.

The facility boasts lots of light, lots  of wood and  interior design that  is  meant to reflect Prince George’s   connection with rivers, and forestry.  The main floor  has a blue theme to   reflect  the   rivers, while the second floor   has a  rustic brick  colour  enhanced with open beams.

The main floor reception area features a fireplace and sitting area, The  residential care wings each  have their own  dining area, (photo  at right)  private dining room  for  birthdays or special  events with family,   activity  rooms  and  health care services,  there are some finishing touches that  may  go unnoticed  by some.

Take for instance the   hand rails that   run along the walls of the corridor.  The   wooden rail is smooth   to the touch, except  as  the rail is about to end   at a door way.  There, the   underside of the rail is notched, not that you  can see  it, but   your hand will   feel it.    The notch announces the end of the section   of handrail because of a doorway.  “It was something  one of the  construction crew came up with” says Northern Health spokesperson Eryn  Collins,  “It will help anyone who  is visually impaired know  that they   are  coming to a break  in the railing, and for those who  may   be  visiting someone down the hall, they can count the notches  back to their own  room.”

The entrance to each private room has a “memories” cabinet  ( shown  at left) which a resident can fill with special items.   

Each room   has warm wood furniture, private bathroom and plenty of wall space for whatever the resident needs to make it home.

The great room on the second floor ( photo  below) is bathed in light as floor to ceiling windows have a southern exposure.

The new facility will be welcoming its first residents from Rainbow Park Lodge and from beds on the 2^nd floor at PGRH.  The  15 beds at PGRH were “decommissioned” long ago,   and Rainbow Park will go back to being a day facility.  There is no wait list for beds in the complex care area of the facility,  but there is  already a  wait list  for the 50  assisted  living  units.

The work on the assisted living unit wing continues.  (photo at  left) It won’t be ready for occupation until later this fall.

“Dorothy” an elderly volunteer at the new facility,   put her thoughts on the building down to a few   simple words “This is a very, very beautiful place.”

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