The former St. Mary’s of the Lake site, now owned by Queen’s, will soon be home to a new Providence Transitional Care Centre, with up to 64 transitional care beds for the region’s aging adults.

The move was made public as part of a larger provincial announcement on Oct. 15 that announced 200 such beds across the province. Details about the centre were then announced by Providence Care on Oct. 16.   

“Queen’s University is pleased to be able to partner with Providence Care and provide the space needed to allow them to develop new transitional care beds for the Kingston community and surrounding region,” says Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University. “This project will have a direct and positive impact in the provision of care to some of our region’s most vulnerable patients, and is an excellent example of how public institutions can work together to deliver positive results for our community.”

The Southeast region has a significant gap in the availability of restorative programs and other specialized services for aging, mental health and rehabilitation. To help address those needs, Providence Care will be opening the new transitional care centre in 2021.

“This is an innovative approach and something the Southeast region desperately needs to help care for individuals and their families,” says Cathy Szabo, Providence Care President & CEO. “By opening Providence Transitional Care Centre, we’re working to ensure people have access to the care they need in their own region, when they need it.”

The Providence Transitional Care Centre will provide better ways of caring for frail adults and will include an integrated model of care that will have direct benefits to the community and includes timely access to assessment, early identification of needs, care navigation, and appropriate services or programs.

The university bought the former St. Mary’s of the Lake site at 340 Union St. from Providence Care in 2017. It is seen as an ideal site for future campus development. In the near-term the university is utilizing some of the existing buildings and was approached by Providence Care and the provincial government to lease unallocated space in another of its existing buildings for a fixed term to respond to immediate community needs.

 Quick Facts

• Providence Transitional Care Centre will feature up to 64 transitional care beds
• All services provided at Providence Transitional Care Centre will be an extension of those provided at Providence Care Hospital.
• Queen’s University currently owns the property located at 340 Union St. Queen’s has agreed to lease the space to Providence Care for a seven-year term to create the Providence Transitional Care Centre.
• The existing building will need to be renovated to ensure the site best meets the need for clinical use. Providence Care’s Redevelopment and Planning team is currently working on design plans. Construction is slated to begin as soon as possible, once details have been finalized.