O’Brien House is a 10 bed retirement home located on a picturesque, two acre property in Shanty Bay . The home was originally built by the volunteer board of the Abbeyfield Housing Society of Shanty Bay, after a successful capital campaign that raised $500,000 in cash and gifts in kind. The intention was to provide supportive accommodation for seniors in Oro-Medonte, enabling them to stay close to home and family. With more retirement options available in the Barrie area, however, O’Brien House closed at the end of 2003 because of too few residents. The Simcoe Community Services Foundation purchased the home in January 2004 with the intent of renting it to aging individuals who were already residing within the organization’s accommodation system. Subsequent to tours and family meetings, ten individuals between the ages of 51 and 75 chose to make O’Brien House their home. O’Brien House opened officially as the Simcoe Community Services retirement residence in the summer of 2004.
Each retiree has his/her own bedroom and bathroom. Meals are served and laundry services are provided for the residents.
Some residents elect to attend various activities in Barrie, while others prefer to participate in recreation activities primarily at O’Brien House, where friends from the Shanty Bay community drop by to visit, play music or hold a Bingo. O’Brien House is licensed by Ministry of Community and Social Services and governed by the Developmental Services Act.