Before she died, Madeline Nelner was still very independent. She was able to get around her hometown of Fort Simpson to frequent her regular spots: church, the coffee shop, the post office and visiting with loved ones.

For her son Dennis Nelner, it broke his heart when she had to seek long-term care in Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� several hours away by road, or an hour's flight.

SA国际影视传媒淚t kept her away from Simpson for almost two years,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was a big problem that she had because it kept her away from family and friends and things that she was used to.

SA国际影视传媒淭hose are very precious moments for elders.SA国际影视传媒�

Now, two years after his motherSA国际影视传媒檚 death, Nelner is taking steps to solve that problem. He's working towards converting his late motherSA国际影视传媒檚 family home into a long-term care facility (LTC) for Fort Simpson. The project is called AmaSA国际影视传媒檚 house: Madeline Nelner LTC Facility SA国际影视传媒� ama meaning mother. 

In a Facebook post introducing the project, Nelner says the home helps to fulfill his motherSA国际影视传媒檚 wish of offering her home for community service. 

SA国际影视传媒�Mom understood how it felt to leave home and the uncertainty of being away from loved ones due to lack of medical treatment in a small, rural Northern community,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淗omeless, family and friends, anyone needing a safe place to stay would find themselves at her house. Mom's door was always open, that was her way of helping people.SA国际影视传媒�

Though Nelner is considering expanding the building, as it stands AmaSA国际影视传媒檚 house would have five beds for its residents, in addition to space for a live-in personal support worker or registered nurse for 24-hour care. Nelner says the building is in the middle of town so that residents can still be in close proximity to everything they rely on.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 important, he says, that the facility is entirely wheelchair accessible so that any person who uses a wheelchair can SA国际影视传媒渇unction independently inside that facility.SA国际影视传媒�

Fort Simpson does have an existing LTC facility, though it is often at capacity. It houses 17 residents and, to date, there are three people on the waiting list. 

Damien Healy, a spokesperson with GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Health and Social Services, says that the project SA国际影视传媒渋s a positive step forward for the community of Fort Simpson, as this project will provide an option for seniors or persons with disabilities who require accessible housing options and supports. We look forward to working with Mr. Nelner and wish his project success.SA国际影视传媒�

With all the design and upfront work laid out, Nelner says itSA国际影视传媒檚 now SA国际影视传媒渏ust a matter of meeting the needs of CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation), which is going to be our lead partner on this.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think weSA国际影视传媒檙e at a point now where weSA国际影视传媒檝e met all the conditions, we checked off all the boxes, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e ready to submit a formal application,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淚f the funding is approved, we can start hopefully this year to get it off the ground.SA国际影视传媒�

Following a presentation to the regionSA国际影视传媒檚 wellness council and an online survey made available to the community, Nelner says SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 been overwhelming support.SA国际影视传媒�

If all goes as planned, Nelner sees his repurposing of his motherSA国际影视传媒檚 house as SA国际影视传媒渁 good investment into the NorthSA国际影视传媒� that could be used as a template for other communities. 

SA国际影视传媒淢ine is going to be for long-term care but there could be homeless shelters or womenSA国际影视传媒檚 shelters, things like that can be developed in other communities.SA国际影视传媒� he says.

In next steps for developing AmaSA国际影视传媒檚 House LTC, Nelner is working with a business consultant to help navigate the many moving parts. He's working on securing funding, meeting infrastructure requirements and partnering with social services to make the project a reality. 

While he does not yet have a concrete timeline, Nelner hopes to honour his mother in opening the LTC facility some time next year. 

"If you know a little bit about my mom, she has a long record of community service,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淓veryone knows and loves my mom. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 the one thatSA国际影视传媒檚 selling it, not me.SA国际影视传媒�