Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton County officials say the new Small House for people with dementia should be ready for residents in time for Christmas.

But it will need some financial help from the public to make it the space the long-term care division hoped it would be.

Michael Gorgey, general manager of long-term care, says after eight years of planning, construction is well underway on the house attached to Meadowview Villa in Petrolia. Gorgey gave Plympton-Wyoming councillors an update about the 12-bed $12 million facility March 11.

Gorgey says 87 per cent of people living in long-term care homes in Lambton have some form of dementia.

“Those individuals have complex behaviors, can sometimes be violent, can sometimes be wandering into people’s rooms, can upset others who are living in their home,” he said. “Our hope is to bring those out and those people into this home. They get excellent care. They get the quality care that they need to work with their with their dementia.”

Gorgey says the residents in small homes have more say in their daily routines, choosing what activities to be involved in and with meal preparation. In studies around the world where small homes are used, people with dementia live better lives.

“Those folks are usually having less antipsychotic medications. They are lower hospitalization rates, lower infectious disease rates, and improve staff and elder quality of life.”

Gorgey says the weather has slowed construction slightly. An original timeline suggests people would start moving into the home in the fall. He hopes now to have the 12 rooms filled in time for Christmas.

Sixteen new employees will be hired to help operate the small house.

And Gorgey hopes to partner with universities to study the benefits of the more home-like setting for people with dementia.

As the construction work continues, the county is speaking to municipal councils and service clubs seeking donations.

Gorgey told Plympton-Wyoming councillors the county is hoping to raise another $1.5 million for the small house.

Gorgey says during the design phase of the project, the county had to scale back some items to keep the project within the $12 million budget.

The outdoor garden, in particular, Gorgey said “may not have been what we envisioned.

“So, we’re hoping to utilize fundraising to be able to bring those spaces up to what we envisioned during the design.”

Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Gary Atkinson says residents he has spoken to are interested in the project.

“They love the idea. They wish there was more of it,” he said. “I’ve gone through family members that have had dementia /Alzheimers, and I could see where something like that would be very beneficial.”