The Hamlets at Duncan was built in 2021 and is one of nine homes in British Columbia and Alberta that are owned and operated by The Hamlets.
This three-story building offers 88-long-term care private rooms (including two bariatric suites), divided into five neighbourhoods called “hamlets”. “Somenos” is the theme of the building, named after the surrounding landscape and waterways.
Access to subsidized long-term care is coordinated by Island Health staff.
Please do not contact the Operator directly regarding subsidized long-term care. For more information on subsidized long-term care, contact an Island Health Community Health Services office near you.
5950 York Road
Duncan, BC V9L 0H2
The Hamlets
The greater Hamlets organization was accredited in December 2018 with Exemplary Standing under the Qmentum accreditation program. This is the highest award that can be achieved in the accreditation process. As The Hamlets at Duncan is a newly built home (2021), it was not included in the 2018 accreditation assessment.
Accreditation is an external peer review process to assess and improve the services health care organizations provide to their patients and clients, based on standards of excellence set by Accreditation Canada. For more information, visit: http://www.accreditation.ca/.
Publicly subsidized units: 80
Private-pay units: 8
The five hamlets, distributed over three floors, are named for local flora and fauna that have had traditional significance for the Cowichan Tribe, and are arranged as water, land, and sky. The first-floor hamlet is called “Salmon”, the second-floor hamlets are called “Snowberry” and “Camus”, and the third-floor hamlets are call “Swan” and “Heron”. The signage for each of the hamlets is written in the Hul’q’umi’num’ language, with the English translations as sub-titles.
The Hamlets acknowledges with gratitude all the First Nations on whose traditional and unceded lands we work and provide service, in particular, the Quw’utsun people, on whose lands our Duncan care home is located.
To ensure intimate, home-like surroundings, each hamlet has its own dining space, recreation areas, and quiet room. The individual suites are tastefully decorated in soft colours with comfortable furnishings, and doorways and hallways are wide to accommodate wheelchair mobility. Residents are encouraged to bring familiar belongings and decorations to create an atmosphere that is familiar to them and to their families. The secure outdoor spaces are adjacent to a wooded area that is teeming with birds and mammals, with a view of Mount Prevost in the background.
The sacred space and chapel, called Su-li (the Hul’q’umi’num’ word meaning “spirit” or “soul”) has additional ventilation to accommodate smudging ceremonies.
The Hamlets at Duncan is also home to a six-floor assisted-living wing with 53 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites.
Building Amenities
- Large, centralized activity room
- Private dining room
- Outdoor courtyards
- Indoor lounges and purpose-built cozy corners for activities such as reading, visiting, or puzzle-making
- Hair salon
- Board room available
- Sensory therapy room
- Library
- Craft Room
- Sacred Room (Chapel)
- Tuck shop
- Modern commercial kitchen
- Wayfinding lighting
- Furniture in contrasting colours
- Composting and recycling stations throughout the building
The Hamlets at Duncan is located near a popular walking trail on the edge of the Somenos Conservation Area and near public schools.
The city of Duncan, home of the world’s largest hockey stick and puck, and known as the “City of Totems”, provides all amenities for guests and visitors.
The district hospital is also located in Duncan.
The recreation bus is used for resident tours of the local countryside and attractions.
The Hamlets at Duncan welcomes all languages, cultures and religions.
We take pride in offering resident-centered care with compassion that enables choice, encourages independence, respects privacy, foster individuality and preserves dignity. Our philosophy of care is represented by the values that permeate our lives and guide our mission at The Hamlets at Duncan.
Quality of Life - We believe that individuals are inherently precious and are committed to supporting a
person’s attainment of the highest physical, mental and spiritual well-being possible.
Loving Care - We love and care for each individual with the same esteem and affection that we reserve for our most cherished friend or family member.
Honouring Individuals - We are committed to the development of self-esteem, self-confidence and trust in a community that fosters mutual respect, trust, teamwork and open communication for everyone.
Integrity - We conduct all activities to the best of our individual and collective ability, demonstrated by
our high regard for truthfulness and honesty. It is the importance of not only knowing the right thing to do but doing the right thing.
Shared Responsibility - We believe in a coordinated approach to the delivery of quality health care services that transcends individual accomplishments, yet maintains individual accountability toward the
common goal.
Sanctity of Life - Our organization is guided by the tenets of our Christian faith that upholds the sanctity of life, no matter what stage of life.
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
The Hamlets will provide all activities of inquiry and assessment into Medical Assistance in Dying. If a resident in our care decides to embark on accessing the service of MAiD, The Hamlets will respectfully assist the resident in identifying and transferring their care over to an appropriate location to receive their choice in service.
All 88 long-term care suites are private rooms that include an overhead lift to support residents with mobility challenges, contain a private bathroom and shower with a pull-down bench seat, and are furnished with an electric bed, armoire, and dresser. Each suite also has two call bells for urgent matters.
For funded suites, residents pay up to 80% of their after-tax income which covers the cost of food and accommodation. For private long-term care suites, please contact The Hamlets at Duncan for updated pricing.
The Hamlets at Duncan activities includes such things as:
- Organized outings bus trips, and scenic drives
- Exercise Classes
- Intergenerational Programs
- Wildlife viewing stations
- Holy Studies
- Pub nights and onsite Movie Nights
- Music Therapy and Sing Alongs
- Pet Therapy, including bat and bird boxes, and feeders
- Weekly cranium crunches
- Art and craft classes
- Gardening
- Monthly themed events, such as High Teas, pig roasts, and traditional salmon bakes
- A full activities and social calendar can be found on our website
Motorized scooters are for outside use only. Electric wheelchairs are permitted inside.
The Hamlets at Duncan has a pet therapy program. Pets (dogs only) are welcome to come as visitors; pets must be well mannered and leashed at all times, with up to date vaccinations. Pets are not allowed in areas where food is prepared or served. For further details, please call reception.
The Hamlets at Duncan has a designated smoking area on the grounds for residents. All residents who smoke must have a smoking risk assessment completed. Team members are not allowed to smoke on The Hamlets property.
- Secured entrances(s) and outdoor spaces
- Video monitoring of public areas
- Doors secured with magnetic release buttons /keypads
- Fire sprinklers
- Smoke detectors
- Regular fire inspections
- Monthly fire drills for team members and residents
- 24-hour, on-site, supervised nurse-call system
- Window locking guards
The Hamlets at Duncan has regular spiritual and religious services. While a chaplain can be made available, The Hamlets encourages all residents to connect with their community spiritual leader if that leader does not regularly visit The Hamlets.
- Wheelchair-accessible bus for day trips
- Footcare nurse
- Hairdresser
- Dental hygiene services
- Audiologist
- Allied Health support: Occupational Therapist (or Physiotherapist), Dietitian, Social Worker
- Bistro
- Sensory therapy room
- Rooms, such as the private dining room, for celebrations
- In-house laundry services
- Day support space for a wellness and dementia community program
Underground parking is free, but limited, for visitors. Street parking on York Road is also available.
The Hamlets at Duncan is home to our residents, so we encourage family and friends to visit.
Find information on long-term care visitor guidelines.
Please contact staff to learn more about visiting this location.
During influenza season (typically December-March), to help protect patients from the flu, all visitors will be expected to wear a mask in our facilities if they have not had a flu shot. For information about visiting during the Covid pandemic, please contact The Hamlets.
Provincial policy requires all visitors to be informed: "Violence, foul language and abusive behaviours are not acceptable. Verbal threats or acts of violence will not be tolerated and may result in removal from this facility and/or prosecution.”
