Brief History
Established in Barrie in 1940, the IOOF Seniors Homes Inc. is respected in the community as a charitable non profit organization offering a continuum of services which includes long term care, assisted living, affordable rental apartments, and independently owned life lease apartments.
Situated on two campuses in Barrie, one located on Brooks St in Old Allandale and the other on Dean Avenue in the south end of Barrie, we are home to approximately 500 seniors.
A Top 100 Employer in Barrie, the corporation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and directed by qualified and experienced management who employ more than 260 staff.
Operational funding for both housing and long term care is a combination of revenue from residents, based upon income and ability to pay and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through the NSM LHIN.
Historically the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) provided programs and services to care for the "disadvantaged, seniors, and orphans" in Ontario for well over a century. The letters I.O.O.F. stand for the “Independent Order of Odd Fellows”. “Rebekahs” is the name given to the women’s branch of the fraternity.
In 1940, the Order moved its 40 bed Home for the Aged to Barrie from Toronto. Since that time, the Barrie LTC Home has evolved through a number of expansions. It increased its capacity to 80 beds in 1956, and added recreational space in 1966.
When the long-term care Home was rebuilt in 1980, government funding required the restructuring of the organization as a new corporate entity which now operates independently of the ‘Order.’
In honour of the historical contribution of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Home and Manor still bear the Odd Fellow name and the present corporation is still known as the IOOF Seniors Homes Inc.
In June 1984, the new Corporation officially opened a re-designed and expanded 155 bed Long Term Care Home known as the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Home and 20 geared-to-income enriched seniors' apartments called the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Manor.
In 1993 the Corporation opened Heritage Place, 80 barrier-free apartments in which seniors can benefit from available supportive housing services.
In 2004, the Corporation completed construction and opened 161 Life Lease suites, 5 km distance, at the corner of Madelaine Dr. and Dean Avenue. Known as The Terraces these two five story buildings are connected by a service pavilion with recreational rooftop gardens and offer independent living and amenities for able seniors.
In 2006 the corporate name was shortened to IOOF Seniors Homes Inc., a charitable non-profit corporation.
In 2008, construction of a new 96 bed wing attached to the existing Home, was completed and opened thereby increasing the Home’s overall capacity to 162 beds. The Home will continue to retrofit and upgrade to the new Ministry of Health and Long Term Care design standards as funds permit.
In 2010 the Home retrofitted and reopened a previously unoccupied 26 bed unit temporarily as Interim Long Term Care to accept patients from local hospitals on a short term basis to provide these residents with more appropriate care while they await a LTC placement and to alleviate the local acute care bed shortage.
The Odd Fellow and Rebekah Home Today
The 161 bed IOOF Home, administered under the Ontario Long Term Care Homes Act, 2007, has a sound record for compliance to Ministry of Health & Long Term Care regulations and an excellent reputation for providing services and programs to frail elderly who may have a number of chronic conditions or suffer from some degree of cognitive impairment or dementia. Continually evolving, the Home provides a full range of secure and supervised health services for residents 24/7, offering standard, semi and private rooms, a secure unit, and palliative care. The living environment is enhanced with a worship centre, hair salon, tuck shop, auditorium, greenhouse, visiting rooms, and enclosed outdoor gardens. Resident and Family Councils are active.
Based on need and referral through the NSM CCAC, the LTC Home principally serves the communities of Barrie/ Simcoe County area and Ontario.
However the Home Needs to Evolve – Capital Redevelopment
The acuity and complexity of care is increasing dramatically. The Home now accommodates primarily those with chronic and debilitating physical conditions and/or cognitive impairment.
As a different type of facility is now needed our Home is evolving through a significant rebuild and as funds permit. The Home must be completely reconstructed to meet the provincial government building design standards and the increased acuity of the clients.
To accomplish the total rebuilding of the IOOF LTC Home, construction was been planned in “phases”. Phase I or the construction of the new 96 bed wing was completed in 2008 and the Phase 2 (currently delayed due to funding needs) – will be the renovation of the best part of the existing Home reconfiguring it to 65 beds. The net result is intended to be a new 161 bed long-term care facility, meeting or exceeding the MOHLTC “A” standard.