It was moving day Sunday as residents and staff of the Prince Edward Home on Brighton Road moved to their new digs on the Maypoint Road in Charlottetown.
The move entailed more than 120 residents being carefully transported from the old building into a van and taken to the new facility on Maypoint Road.
Approximately 225 staff members are also making the transfer, while moving trucks were also at the old home throughout the day loading up equipment that will go into the new facility.
Andrew MacDougall, administrator, said it was a special day and that words couldn’t describe the looks on many of the residents’ faces when they entered their new home.
“To see the smiles, arms raised in the air, the hugs and kisses, you really felt a sense that they found a home. The home they deserve,” MacDougall said. “It’s almost like it’s been there for years and we’re only on day one.”
Pat and the Elephant vans made continuous round trips between the two facilities all day Sunday.
One staff member said the move was hard on some of the residents who were fearful of the unknown while others were happy to leave the crumbling old building behind.
MacDougall said while there will be some adjustments for residents over the next several weeks, care was taken in connecting with all the residents prior to the move.
“Discussing with each resident and seeing what their thoughts and perspectives were,” he said. “As a whole, right now they’re doing quite well.”
The palliative care unit will remain at the old facility for the time being.
The 81-year-old building began life as a hospital, but was turned into the health care facility that it is today when the Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened.
MacDougall described the new facility as being tailor-made for a mix of residents that will include those with dementia, the long-term care population, and others coming for restorative care.
The new facility is divided into five “neighbourhoods’’ with each having a spacious spa with tub and shower room. Each neighbourhood contains two adjoining “households.’’ There will be 12 residents per household, each with their own room that has their own bathroom
It was moving day Sunday as residents and staff of the Prince Edward Home on Brighton Road moved to their new digs on the Maypoint Road in Charlottetown.
The move entailed more than 120 residents being carefully transported from the old building into a van and taken to the new facility on Maypoint Road.
Approximately 225 staff members are also making the transfer, while moving trucks were also at the old home throughout the day loading up equipment that will go into the new facility.
Andrew MacDougall, administrator, said it was a special day and that words couldn’t describe the looks on many of the residents’ faces when they entered their new home.
“To see the smiles, arms raised in the air, the hugs and kisses, you really felt a sense that they found a home. The home they deserve,” MacDougall said. “It’s almost like it’s been there for years and we’re only on day one.”
Pat and the Elephant vans made continuous round trips between the two facilities all day Sunday.
One staff member said the move was hard on some of the residents who were fearful of the unknown while others were happy to leave the crumbling old building behind.
MacDougall said while there will be some adjustments for residents over the next several weeks, care was taken in connecting with all the residents prior to the move.
“Discussing with each resident and seeing what their thoughts and perspectives were,” he said. “As a whole, right now they’re doing quite well.”
The palliative care unit will remain at the old facility for the time being.
The 81-year-old building began life as a hospital, but was turned into the health care facility that it is today when the Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened.
MacDougall described the new facility as being tailor-made for a mix of residents that will include those with dementia, the long-term care population, and others coming for restorative care.
The new facility is divided into five “neighbourhoods’’ with each having a spacious spa with tub and shower room. Each neighbourhood contains two adjoining “households.’’ There will be 12 residents per household, each with their own room that has their own bathroom