The initiative for developing Hawthorne Seniors Care Community came from the Port Coquitlam Senior Citizens Housing Society. It was realized that there was a need for a personal and/or intermediate care home in the area, so Hawthorne Lodge, a six story building was built. The lodge opened as a long-term care facility housing 164 residents in 1973.

In the early eighties the Provincial Government changed its outlook and the philosophy of their Long Term Care Program. This resulted in the phasing out of Personal Care; as a result Hawthorne Lodge began functioning as an Intermediate Care facility.

In 1986 a modern activity centre was built and in 1990 a third elevator was added to facilitate the movement of the increasing number of residents using wheelchairs. A new program was also introduced to care for psycho-geriatric residents, many of whom have some from of dementia. Thirty beds were set aside for this special unit on our second floor and a large patio was protected with nine-foot safety glass to provide a safe outdoor environment. A second Special Care Unit was developed on the third floor in 1994 and the lodge changed its name to Hawthorne Seniors Care Community to reflect the increased care provided.

With the help of the Ministry of Health many more upgrades have occurred and will continue to occur. In 1991 the Port Coquitlam Senior Citizens Housing Society obtained approval to build a seventy-five bed Extended Care Facility which was completed in 1995. This addressed the need for more complex care in the area and minimized the need for residents to be relocated outside of their community or to other care facilities when their care needs increased.

An Adult Day Program has also been established at Hawthorne Seniors Care Community. It is currently funded for five clients, five days a week (Monday-Friday). The Adult Day Program has helped to integrate clients from the community into the social and recreational programs at the Centre.

Currently, the facility provides care for residents assessed at the Intermediate Care
Level 3 (IC3) and those assessed as Extended Care. Persons at this level of care require professional care and supervision for complex care issues.