Toronto long-term care home opens first 2SLGBTQ+ wing

A downtown long-term care home has opened what’s believed to be the first 2SLGBTQ+ wing in North America.

Over the weekend, Rekai Centres opened its Rainbow Wing in Wellesley Central Place, just steps from the city’s Church and Wellesley village.

It’s the first of two planned by the company that will accommodate anyone who wants to live there with space for up to 25 residents.

Genevieve D’Iorio’s mother currently lives at the assisted living facility and said she loves that people get to be who they are in long-term care.

“Giving a choice to people to be part of a community within a floor is really important,” said D’Iorio. “I’m gay and my partner Rene and I have been together for 14 years. When I came out to my mom, she told me she was bisexual. I came out to her and she came out to me.”

“I think it’s really important to connect the two generations together, so that the younger generation doesn’t take for granted how hard and how much our seniors had to really fight,” said Danielle Herrington who works at Wellesley Central Place.

The staff at the home has been given culturally competent education about providing care to the 2SLGBTQ+ along with additional support and programs that will cater to the inclusive needs of residents.

“Residents suffering from dementia from the community need that extra TLC and this is a place to feel included based on the culture and the visuals around them,” Barbara Michalik with The Rekai Centre tells CityNews.

Michalik said they are focused on ensuring the wing is not separated from the rest of the long-term care home.

“Our entire home is an inclusive home,” said Michalik. “It’s not a separate unit, it’s not locked, it’s an open wing and it’s open for everyone.”

“I have one resident that used to be a drag queen in their former life before coming here and they feel comfortable talk to staff and other residents about it,” added Herrington.

Mayor John Tory was attended the opening of the wing on Saturday. “It’s a great thing, especially if you put it in the context of what’s going on in the rest of the world.”

“These are individual human beings with individual attributes and wonderful characteristics, even in our own city-operated homes, we’ve moved to something called Emotional Centered Care, which means to treat people as an individual,” Tory said. “I think this will help people be themselves at their later stages of life.”

The second rainbow wing is set to open in 2024 at Cherry Place located at Front and Cherry Streets.