Fairmount Home expansion – consultant recommends a full rebuild

Jeff Green | Jul 27, 2022

A consultant has concluded that it would be better to build a new 160 bed facility than attempt to add 32 beds to Fairmount Home

With the so-called 'aging tsunami' gathering steam, some of the limitations of the Fairmount Home being exposed by COVID, and the fact that the most recent renovation to the 128 bed home is now nearing its 20th anniversary, Frontenac County engaged G architects to look at best options to redevelop and expand Fairmount Home.

“Fairmount Home is an accredited, 128 bed long-term care home that last underwent a physical renewal in 2002-03 that was designed and constructed to meet the standards of care in the early 2000s. In the nearly 20 years, the long-term care sector has dramatically changed to a high acuity facility that deals with end-of-life care that often involves complex treatments for serious, chronic health conditions,” said a staff report to council accompanying the G architect presentation, which came to Frontenac County Council last week.

The major conclusion of the study is that it would cost in the neighbourhood of $18 million to expand the existing facility from 128 to 160 beds, and almost $60 million to build a brand new facility on the same site.

The report recommends the new build.

It says that an all-new Fairmount would be easier to build to construct to meet the needs of the residents of the future, would be cheaper on an cost-per bed basis, and could be constructed without displacing any of the 128 residents currently in the home.

Phil Goodfellow, who presented the report on behalf of G Architects said that, “given the scope of such a project, and the fragile state of long term care residents, being able to complete the new building without having to inconvenience the residents, many of whom don't handle disruption well, is not an inconsiderable factor.”

In the case of all new construction, the existing building would ultimately be freed up to be re-purposed for other uses, according to Goodfellow, as “rental units, an assisted living facility, hospice, a community medicine centre, community hall, office building, etc.”

A new facility would be better suited to caring for people at a later stage in their life cycle than the existing Fairmount Home was set up to serve, according to the presentation, requiring more acute care for a shorter time period.

The report includes detailed drawings of both the renovation and new build options.

Discussions are preliminary at this point, because before any new build or renovation can be contemplated, there needs to be a clear indication from the provincial government that they are willing to provide ongoing funding for an additional 32 patients at Fairmount.

There is also a financial hurdle.

In a staff report to Council accompanying the presentations, the financial implications of a $60 million build are considered.

Given the scope of its overall operations, Frontenac County's annual repayment limit is estimated at $4 million per year, enough to take on an upper limit of $48 million in debt.

“As currently structured, the County would not be able to borrow the funds for Option 2 [a new build] without either a significant down payment, approval from the Ontario Municipal Board, or a change in the funding formula from the Ministry of Long-Term Care,” the staff report concludes.

However, it is noteworthy that the City of Kingston is a municipal partner with Frontenac County supporting Fairmount Home residents. The home is located within the boundaries of the City and serves residents from Kingston as well as South Frontenac Township.

After the presentation, members of Council were concerned about the financial implications for Frontenac County ratepayers of a building project of that scale, and about how much the Province of Ontario or the City of Kingston would kick in.

They also wanted to know whether the re-build is necessary to begin with,

“Was there a report that said we needed to add 32 beds,” asked South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal.

“It would be difficult to get renovation funding without adding new beds,” said Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Pender. 160 seems to be about the magic number from an operational perspective. Some of the larger urban municipalities are looking at 320 bed facilities, smaller ones are looking at 160.”

Pender said that the province currently has a construction funding subsidy program. They will provie an number of dollars per bed per day for 25 years, but the funding only comes in when you welcome the first resident to the home.”

Vandewal asked how the City of Kingston factors in,

“You have to question why our taxpayers in Frontenac County would be asked to pay for a new facility that will be used, for the most part, by City of Kingston residents,” he said.

“Based on the redevelopment agreement when the home was renovated in 2003, the City are on the hook for 68% of 128 beds at Fairmount Home now. It is a discussion for another day, probably in closed session, about what their obligation is, going forward,” Pender replied.

Although Fairmount Home is owned and operated by Frontenac County, it is located within the boundaries of the City of Kingston, where most of its residents come from.

The home is co-located with the Frontenac County Administrative office complex in Glenburnie, in the former Pittsburgh Township, which was part of Frontenac County until it was transferred to the City of Kingston in 1998.

There are not plans to move forward with an expansion in the near future.

The presentation by G Architects was received by Council, and the matter was referred back to Fairmount Home management to “incorporate recommendations into the Fairmount Home’s Business Plan and Project Proposals for future consideration by Council.”