Tignish Seniors Home expanding to add long-term care beds and more staff

by Ruby Arsenault, Employment Coach/Facilitator with Tignish Employment Resources (ER) Centre

The Tignish Seniors Home Care Cooperative is expanding to add 12 long-term care beds. The new facility will provide space and care for residents to enable them to stay in their own community once they require a higher level of care.

“Ground has been broken alongside the present facility, as the beginning stages of the new long-term care facility get started,” says Karen Gallant, Chair of the Cooperative board.

“We are so pleased to finally see this expansion come to life, as it has been a goal for the board of directors for some time. It is something I am dedicated to seeing completed, not only in a professional aspect but because recently my mother needed to be transferred to a long-term care facility outside her community. I understand firsthand the need for this service to be offered here.

“Once we received approval from the provincial government, a license for the expansion, and their commitment, we immediately created various subcommittees to assist with planning, fundraising, and recruiting,” says Karen. “This is a huge task, but we have many capable hands involved.”

“This is something that the board, the staff and the community have been very passionate about,” says Lorianne Keough, Manager of the senior home.

With this expansion and the services to be offered in this facility comes the demand for more staff.

Upcoming positions include:

• Head Nurse
• Registered Nurses (RNs)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
• Resident Care Workers and Patient Care Workers (RCWs and PCWs)

“We hope to attract and recruit healthcare workers who would prefer the slower pace of a smaller rural work environment,” says Karen. “For locals, these are opportunities to work closer to home and contribute to our seniors’ lives in their golden years.

“We welcome applicants who may be seeking either full-time or part-time positions or the possibility of job sharing. We also hope to recruit trained and experienced healthcare workers from the local area and those who would like to move to our area.

“We are in the beginning stages and anticipate opening in the fall of 2024, and we welcome anyone who is interested in knowing more about upcoming positions to contact Lorianne Keough.

“The recruiting committee consists of community members, many retired from healthcare,” says Karen. “We plan to recruit a wonderful staff to operate the facility. The expertise and knowledge shared by each committee member is vital to a successful operational long-term care facility.

“Plans are in the works to expand our present kitchen, which will provide room for all meals to be prepared and served in the community care home as well as in the long-term care wing. As we grow, we will determine what other staff needs we may require.”