Welland hospital will close its long-term care home this summer

Niagara Health says the Welland Hospital long-term care home, with 87 residents, will close in June because the 1971 building does not meet current safety standards; Ontario Health's atHome team will assist with placements.

Niagara Health announced the long-term care home at Welland Hospital will close in June. The unit currently houses 87 residents and operates in a building constructed in 1971. Niagara Health says the building no longer meets modern long-term care safety and accessibility standards and that renovations are not feasible. Ontario Health's atHome placement group is now working with residents to arrange other long-term care options. What is known: - Niagara Health announced the extended care and interim long-term care units will close in June and that the operating licence for the home will not be renewed. - The home was built in 1971; Niagara Health reported it does not have a full sprinkler system and says the building does not meet current safety and accessibility standards. - Ontario Health's atHome team is conducting daily visits and will prioritize residents with complex needs while coordinating placements with regional long-term care providers. - The home will remain open until the last resident has moved and new admissions have stopped; if residents are not placed by June, operations and staff care may be extended to September 2026 with approval from the Ministry of Long-Term Care. - Niagara Health said there will be no immediate staff changes and that it is working with unions on plans for impacted employees. Summary: The closure removes a long-standing long-term care unit and requires residents to be relocated while Ontario Health atHome coordinates placements. The unit will stay open during the move, new admissions have ceased, and the operating licence will not be renewed in June; operations could continue through September 2026 if placements are not completed.