A developer in Clearwater is planning to build a 155-unit senior care facility in the North Thompson.

Ron Rotzetter says he’s hoping crews can move dirt before the start of fall, and says a goal of completion would be the summer of 20-21.

“We’re hoping to get an extended-care facility that provides four different levels of care for seniors. We’ve got a 10-acre piece of property on the highway there that has been approved for zoning for the project. Our town council is behind the project and we’re hoping to move forward with it as soon as possible.”

Rotzetter says he needs to make sure there is the availability of workers – as the facility would need 55 full-time care aids and about 35 part-time staff.

“The first thing we’re doing is working with WorkBC to see if interest for employment for the people in our community, or around our community, is there. Because as you know, if you don’t have employees to run a facility of this magnitude, it would really hinder the project.”

Rotzetter says a large seniors home would complement the health service options in the Clearwater area

“We do have a nice little hospital in Clearwater, for one. We have a medical centre, a dental centre here. We have the basic requirements to assist seniors, plus it (a seniors care home) fulfills a need in the Interior. From what we’ve done in our studies, it’s really needed.”

He says many seniors in small Interior communities are being sent to care home in larger cities – which he says can cause hardship for families.