A long-term care facility in downtown Toronto is undergoing reconstruction with a fresh layout that incorporates insights from the COVID-19 outbreak, surpassing the province’s regulations. The new design at Rekai Centre’s Cherry Place prioritizes infection prevention and residents’ emotional well-being, as stated by CEO Sue Graham-Nutter, who emphasized the aim to shield residents from such experiences in the future.
Compared to smaller care homes, traditional long-term care facilities witnessed significantly higher COVID-19 cases and fatalities in 2020, based on data from a 2025 study by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The 13-storey Cherry Place has been revamped with infection control zones featuring sealed doors, enhanced oxygen access, and 348 beds.
While Ontario mandates a maximum of two residents per room and requires dividing patients into self-contained groups of up to 32 individuals known as “resident home areas,” the Rekai Centre’s modifications are viewed positively by Dr. Samir Sinha. However, Sinha highlights that Ontario’s standards for long-term care lag behind current best practices.
Sinha advocates for transitioning towards a “small care homes” model accommodating 10 to 12 residents per house, each having a private bedroom and bathroom. By breaking down larger structures into multiple 12-person households, the model can be effectively implemented, according to Sinha.
At Cherry Place, some resident home areas will house 14 to 18 beds to create a homely ambiance, shared project architect Dustin Hooper. The facility will feature family suites for visitor stays and several terraces with green spaces and sandboxes to encourage communal interactions.
To curb disease transmission during outbreaks, each resident at Cherry Place will have individual bedrooms and bathrooms, minimizing cross-contamination risks. By assigning shared bathrooms to residents with different mobilities, the facility ensures privacy and infection control.
According to the NIA study, smaller-scale care models enhance emotional well-being, staff retention, and disease containment. It recommends consistent healthcare and support services within designated household communities to improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations.
While the Ministry of Long Term Care permits facilities to adopt smaller-scale models, the 2015 design standards ensure alignment with the province’s population growth demands. With over 49,000 individuals on the long-term care bed waitlist in Ontario, the province aims to establish or renovate 58,000 beds by 2028, with Cherry Place set to open in June 2028.