Villa Cathay Care Home

Terra began working with Villa Cathay Care Home Society in 2014, providing development management services to redevelop their existing care home facility. The original Villa Cathay was built in 1978 and was in significant need of upgrading.

Vancouver Coastal Health signed an agreement with Villa Cathay Care Home Society to rebuild and expand the facility, increasing the number of beds by 42 for a total of 192 publicly funded beds. Additionally, there are 32 private pay beds in the facility. The new, modern facility was built in two phases: a 10-storey concrete tower was occupied in December 2019 and the adjoining three-storey wood-frame low-rise building was completed in 2021.

The new care home features the neighbourhood design model, considered to be a best practice in residential care as it enhances residents’ privacy and care while at the same time promoting companionship. It has single rooms, double rooms to accommodate couples, private washrooms, more activity space and better access for wheelchairs. Private rooms give residents a sense of autonomy, ease the transition to a new environment and assist in decreasing aggression and agitation for cognitively compromised seniors. As Chinese seniors make up the majority of residents, Chinese culture, food, environment are an integral part of the experience of care at the facility.

Client:

Villa Cathay Care Home Society

Location:

970 Union Street Vancouver, BC

Completion:

2019 & 2021

Area(s) of Expertise:

Development Management

Project Type:

Supportive Housing

Tags:

highrise, new construction, redevelopment, seniors, wood frame