Ground has been broken on a new long term care home in the region to replace Tilbury Manor Nursing Home.
Provincial officials say construction is now underway on a new 160-bed home in Belle River with 85 new and 75 upgraded beds in private and basic rooms. Officials say the home will be more centrally located to better serve surrounding communities, and is expected to be completed and welcoming its first residents in fall 2025.
“This announcement marks a significant stride forward in our pursuit of dignified and compassionate care for our seniors,” said Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones in a news release. “The redevelopment of these new homes exemplifies our unwavering dedication to building warm, welcoming, safe homes for our seniors. These initiatives stand as a testament to our promise of fostering a future where our seniors can thrive, surrounded by the comfort they deserve and the support they need.”
A number of area residents and officials with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent have been fighting against the move to close Tilbury Manor Nursing Home for the last two years, including working with other stakeholders in the community to maintain Tilbury’s long term care beds and prevent families from having to be moved or separated.
Another 160-bed LTC home is being built in Leamington, which will replace Franklin Gardens Long Term Care home in Leamington. That facility is set to open in the summer of 2026, and five other projects in Essex County are in development.
