A well-known nursing home in Belfast is expanding and creating 19 new jobs in the community.
The Dr. John M. Gillis Memorial Lodge has announced it will soon offer 31 new beds for residents.
Douglas MacKenzie, owner and operator of the Gillis Lodge, says the expansion is the result of increasing demand for nursing care beds.
“The demand is extremely high right now,’’ MacKenzie told The Guardian recently. “We have a long list of people waiting. Many Islanders are waiting in hospital or being transferred to other facilities while waiting for a vacancy at the Gillis Lodge. Providing additional nursing care beds will help alleviate the wait time, and reduce the need for residents to be transferred to another facility while waiting for a bed to become available at the Gillis Lodge.”
MacKenzie said there are 18 people waiting for a bed.
Plans for the Gillis Lodge include a major expansion that includes building rooms for 31 individuals. The expansion will be constructed according to the latest national building standards and utilize state of art technology, MacKenzie said.
But he did note the request to the province for a licence to provide additional nursing care beds will be made after expansion construction is completed, as per provincial regulation.
While the facility is expanding by 31 rooms, a portion of the lodge is being modernized. That means 12 of the existing rooms, which currently have two residents per room, will be turned into private rooms with one person per room. So, the actual net gain for residents is room for an additional 19 residents.
The expansion will also include a new safety unit, with access to a courtyard. In addition, there will be a new bathing room, laundry facility and special events room, which will contribute to a sense of community at the Gillis Lodge, said Jennifer Penny, director of nursing at the facility.
Work is expected to begin in the fall.
Darlene Compton, former administrator at the lodge, said it’s welcome news.
“It’s great. It will mean another 19 jobs in the community,’’ Compton said.
The Gillis lodge employs 90 people full time. Last year, with casuals in the summer it provided enough employment for 106 jobs.
The Gillis Lodge is a dual license facility, operating since 1988 and currently consists of 68 nursing care and 13 community care beds.
A well-known nursing home in Belfast is expanding and creating 19 new jobs in the community.
The Dr. John M. Gillis Memorial Lodge has announced it will soon offer 31 new beds for residents.
Douglas MacKenzie, owner and operator of the Gillis Lodge, says the expansion is the result of increasing demand for nursing care beds.
“The demand is extremely high right now,’’ MacKenzie told The Guardian recently. “We have a long list of people waiting. Many Islanders are waiting in hospital or being transferred to other facilities while waiting for a vacancy at the Gillis Lodge. Providing additional nursing care beds will help alleviate the wait time, and reduce the need for residents to be transferred to another facility while waiting for a bed to become available at the Gillis Lodge.”
MacKenzie said there are 18 people waiting for a bed.
Plans for the Gillis Lodge include a major expansion that includes building rooms for 31 individuals. The expansion will be constructed according to the latest national building standards and utilize state of art technology, MacKenzie said.
But he did note the request to the province for a licence to provide additional nursing care beds will be made after expansion construction is completed, as per provincial regulation.
While the facility is expanding by 31 rooms, a portion of the lodge is being modernized. That means 12 of the existing rooms, which currently have two residents per room, will be turned into private rooms with one person per room. So, the actual net gain for residents is room for an additional 19 residents.
The expansion will also include a new safety unit, with access to a courtyard. In addition, there will be a new bathing room, laundry facility and special events room, which will contribute to a sense of community at the Gillis Lodge, said Jennifer Penny, director of nursing at the facility.
Work is expected to begin in the fall.
Darlene Compton, former administrator at the lodge, said it’s welcome news.
“It’s great. It will mean another 19 jobs in the community,’’ Compton said.
The Gillis lodge employs 90 people full time. Last year, with casuals in the summer it provided enough employment for 106 jobs.
The Gillis Lodge is a dual license facility, operating since 1988 and currently consists of 68 nursing care and 13 community care beds.
