Work will soon begin on a $24-million expansion for the Blood Tribe continuing care facility. That will double the number of beds on reserve to 50. The project will allow more seniors to get the care they need closer to home. “It’s unbelievable to see this, knowing so many of our elders and community members are now going to have the chance to come back home from their facilities away,” said Blood Tribe Department of Health CEO Kash Shade. The province will pick up most of the tab, contributing $20.5 million toward the project, with Blood Tribe chief and council paying the remainder. Nathan Neudorf, minister of assisted living and community supports, sees plenty of value in the expansion. “We know we need to invest in continuing care. We need to invest in health care. And this is just another way of doing that, and one that is culturally sensitive and recognizes the needs of the Blood Tribe in the Kainai people,” said Neudorf. The expansion will be the first facility to offer dementia care on an Indigenous reserve in Alberta. Previously, anyone needing dementia care was forced to go off reserve. Soon, those who need specialized care will be able to stay close to family and friends. “It’s more of a specialized unit for those members that require a little bit of additional care in a secure unit. And we’re so happy that we’re now going to be able to offer that,” said Shade. The expansion has been sorely needed. The Department of Health wasn’t able to say just how long the waitlist is for on reserve care. But it’s getting frequent calls from people asking about beds. “We get consistent calls from community members trying to get into the program, but we have to refer them back to the standard process through AHS,” said Shade. Construction will start as early as next week and is expected to be completed by spring of 2028.
