East end seniors and their families will benefit from a new residential care facility which is being planned for St. George's.

The Department of Health applied for Planning permission and the project is expected to be completed in about two years.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann said that the facility would have about 35 units and would house an estimated 43 people.

"It will have a mixture of studios and double studio apartments," said Dr. Cann.

"Each room will have features for every level of care, for those who need nursing care, rest home care, assisted living or really skilled nursing.

"We won't have to move the person, we will simply adjust the level of care."

Works and Engineering Permanent Secretary Dr. Derrick Binns said the facility will be built on the same premises as the former St. George's Secondary School and that two of the existing buildings will be joined to form the facility.

Works and Engineering chief architect Joseph Galea said that along with the joining of the two main buildings, there would also a circulation corridor and an Alzheimer's care unit.

Mr. Galea said that the existing external walls of the former school were structurally sound and within the rest of the building there were partitions that would be removed and some of the smaller buildings would be demolished.

Dr. Cann added that the facility will compliment the other long term care homes, of which the bulk were in western or central parishes. He said: "This one will replace the former St. George's Rest Home, which closed in February, 2000.

"It will also have a purpose built dementia care unit.

"For people who require a home like environment there will facilities for them and we will also have facilities for couples who want to be housed together. The aim is so that the residents will be closer to their relatives."