On July 19th a small group of community members from Carefor’s past and present gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion of the 25-year anniversary of the Carefor Civic Complex. During this intimate gathering, community leaders spoke of the impact places like Carefor Civic and Carefor Mackay have had on the community.
With Carefor’s successful $1.00 purchase of the Pembroke Civic Hospital in 1998, Carefor was quick to start renovations and opened its doors a few short months later. With originally 64 beds available and space to grow, the mission was simple: To help seniors by providing the community with affordable retirement living, respite care, and day programs. These programs remain to this day and continue to be accessible to seniors from all walks of life.
Carefor CEO Steve Perry explained, “Looking back on everything that we have been able to accomplish within the Civic Complex, it is hard to ignore the role that the community has had in helping to make this building a place where seniors in our community can come to feel safe, and for that we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Laura Lapinskie was also present to deliver a congratulatory message from Local MPP John Yakabuski’s office on behalf of the Ontario Premiers Office: “I would like to extend congratulations to not only those from years gone by but those in the present for all your hard work and diligence for without your efforts and your advocacy Carefor would not be what is it today.” Although twenty-five years have passed, the need for residences like Carefor Civic Complex remains a community priority as many local seniors struggle every day. In 1998, there was approx. 400 names on the local waiting list for long-term care homes. In 2023, that number is closer to 1000 names of seniors waiting for placement. This, coupled with more seniors entering retirement with larger sums of debt, and as a result falling into the lower-income bracket along with the other 18% of seniors living in Pembroke-Renfrew County, the need for homes like Carefor Civic and Mackay has never been greater.
Laura Lapinskie was also present to deliver a congratulatory message from Local MPP John Yakabuski’s office as well as the Ontario Premiers Office “I would like to extend congratulations to not only those from years gone by but those the present for all your hard work and diligence for without your efforts and you advocacy Carefor would not be what is it today.”
For the past 25 years, Carefor Civic Complex has been called home to over 1,000 seniors. It has meant friendship and peace of mind for seniors and their families, as it has given some of our community’s most vulnerable what we all deserve: a place to call home. In addition to services and programs offered to residents at Carefor Civic and Mackay, Carefor’s full-service offering includes non-urgent medical transportation, frozen meal delivery, foot care clinics, and in-home support. At this time, Carefor Civic is home to 94 seniors and is proud to offer the most affordable retirement homes in the Ottawa Valley as everyone deserves a place to call home.