Sackville-Eastern SHore NDP MP Peter Stoffer speaks at The Sagewood's grand opening. (Healey photo)

LOWER SACKVILLE: The new Sagewood Continuing Care facility is the new “sesame street for adults,” a local federal politician boasted.
Sackville-Eastern Shore NDP MP Peter Stoffer compared the new Lower Sackville facility which held its grand opening May 29 to the popular children’s TV show. He was among the dignitaries on hand for the ceremony. Also in attendance was Sackville-Cobequid NDP MLA Dave Wilson.
“It’ll be a very friendly atmosphere,” Stoffer said. “People will feel like they’re being respected even though they will be, in some cases, under serious care.”
A Statistics Canada report, released May 27, said the number of seniors 65 years old could outnumber the amount of children under 15 within five years.
That’s why facilities such as The Sagewood are in desperate need.
“The age demographics are changing quite rapidly,” Wilson said. “That makes facilities like this extremely important. It’s something the government has to continue to fund and continue to support these projects.”
He was impressed when he walked into the facility and saw a lounge area to the left, and a snack shop a short walk away. Also evident was the scent of newness.
“Compared to what we used to see years ago in a facility like this,” he added, “it’s really a change of how an individual live,”
He said no matter what party is in power, they have to ensure that seniors are looked after and the NDP is doing that.
“I definitely think you will see this type of facility duplicated across the province,” he said.
The facility will be run by Rosecrest Communities, which is a division of the Stevens Group of Companies. The privately held third-generation family company is in the process of construction a similar long term care facility in Enfield: the Magnolia.
It has four different areas where patients will be housed. They each have a proper street name, just as if the building was a community of its own. The names of the lanes in the facility are Hummingbird, Cranberry, Butterfly and Apple Blossom.
Thane Stevens, general manager of B.D. Stevens Limited, described the grand opening as a Christmas present that is about to be unwrapped.
“We have lots that we’re excited about,” Stevens told a crowd of about 40 people. “The building is all gift-wrapped and the gift inside is something that everybody wants.”
Chris Wilbur of Elmsdale made the trip to check out what the facility looks like so she could have a better image as to what The Magnolia may look like. She liked what she saw.
“It’s a very comfortable looking spot,” Wilbur said. “I like what I’ve seen so far.”
Stoffer said The Sagewood will ease concerns for over 50 families. He said more of these buildings are come be on the way, not only in Nova Scotia,
He said such facilities will help those in the “sandwich” generation. Those being people looking after their children and parents.
“When our parents require that more-serious, 24-hour care, it’s outstanding to know you don’t have to move them away,” he added.
Stoffer said the facility brings with it a different approach to seniors care.
“These facilities and staff at them treat you as a human being,” he said. “They allow you to interact with other people and other patients. It gives you that community atmosphere.”
phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com