Having the Alberta Seniors and Housing minister visit the Stampede barbecue of Bethany Cochrane, 302 Quigley Dr., was an opportunity to further promote the growing need for seniors care and affordable housing in the community.

Equally, it was a chance for Minister Lori Sigurdson to discuss the beefed up government-supported housing program that could potentially support the major expansion of services being proposed at the centre.

Sigurdson got a first-hand look at the 29-year-old Bethany, currently the only provider of long-term care units in Cochrane, and was aware of the project but made no firm commitment for funding.

'It's good to come here first hand and see it," says Sigurdson. "I've only seen it on paper before."

She says they have met with Bethany officials, including Bethany Cochrane administrator Jennifer Vance and Alasdair Smith, Bethany chief financial officer, to discuss the project and are working through the process with them for potential financial support.

Still, she points out, there is stiff competition for the funds available, even with the Alberta Government committing to spend $1.1 billion over five years in their recently announced affordable housing strategy that includes funding for seniors housing. Over 100 business plans have been submitted by housing authorities throughout the province for review.

Several factors are taken into account, including age of facility (some date back to the late 50s, early 60s), safety concerns, need and financial sustainability.

After years of consultation and planning, Bethany Cochrane is ready to go ahead with the project and just need the word from the government.

"We're as ready as can be," says Vance, "We're ready to put the shovel in the ground so we just need that partnership with government funding to get us to the next step."

In April 2015, the Notley government made a commitment to establish 2,000 more long-term care beds in the province and that fits in well with the Bethany proposal. In a three-phase plan, Bethany wants to expand to 180 long-term care units from the current 78 and their 38 supported living units to be incorporated into 120 affordable housing units and some market value housing. Phases two and three will see the addition of 180 long-term care beds.

It's a massive undertaking they expect to take over 10 years to complete, so the sooner they begin, the better.

"There's a gap in Cochrane in regards to the fulfilling the needs of seniors," says Vance."There's very limited affordable housing right now for seniors plus we have an extensive wait list of people wanting long-term care beds."

Support is strong for the project. Over 200 people attended an open house in October and by then they had received 100 letters of support. Several volunteers of the centre were also on hand during Sigurdson's visit to explain its importance to Cochrane.

"Since October there has not been a day go by that myself or one of my staff have been contacted from community people at large about their own families. They want to know when we're building and if they can put their name on the waiting list."

The redevelopment is also an opportunity to bring the aging facility up-to-date. 

"We know our suites as they exist right now aren't optimal and they're not meeting the needs of seniors. This was a complex design that was built in the 1980s, so things have changed and standards have changed and we just want to offer those services to the seniors in Cochrane."

According to a needs assessment of IBI Group in 2015 there will be a shortage of 69 continuing care beds in Cochrane by 2020 and the current deficit of 79 affordable housing units for seniors is expected to grow to 122 by 2020 and 187 by 2025.