Mayors in eastern Ontario are expressing worries about the possible closure of three long-term care homes – a move they believe would disrupt the lives of seniors and their families.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care has stated it’s looking into a plan that could see three Southbridge Care Homes closed when a new facility opens up in Cornwall, Ont.
The three homes at risk are:
Pinecrest, a 60-bed long-term care home located in Plantagenet, east of Ottawa. The Palace, a 70-bed long-term care home situated in Alexandria, Ontario. Heartwood, a 118-bed long-term care home based in Cornwall.
The proposed new facility would have 320 beds, which is 72 more than the total capacity of the three current homes combined. According to the plan, it will be located directly across from an existing Southbridge home at 800 Nick Kaneb Dr.
However, not everyone agrees with this proposal.
“To the people who live here, the Palace is home,” North Glengarry Mayor Jamie Mac Donald said in a video shared on Facebook last Thursday.
“They worked here, raised their children here, supported our businesses and helped build this community. They deserve to remain connected to it when they need us most. Moving their care to Cornwall has consequences that cannot be measured by counting beds.”
In that same video, Mac Donald mentioned that answers are also needed for those employed at the Palace. He questioned what would happen to those who can’t relocate their lives.
Union says it has limited info
A representative from the United Steelworkers union, which includes members working at both the Palace and Pinecrest, stated they have limited information regarding the potential consolidation.
“The employer continues to inform employees that the closures are not yet definite and that it could take up to five years before the Cornwall facility opens,” said Richard Leblanc, the union’s eastern Ontario area coordinator during an interview with Radio-Canada in French.
Later on, in an English statement to , the union expressed shock at learning about possible closures through media reports and added, “We’re concerned about the ability of these facilities to retain existing staff and to recruit new workers.”
French service standards
According to France Gélinas, who serves as health and long-term care critic for provincial NDP and covers francophone affairs as well, there may be protection for Pinecrest’s beds in Plantagenet.
One of these homes has been designated under the French Language Services Act according to her comments made to . “So the home has 60 beds and the 60 beds are designated which means that they have to be able to offer services in French 24/7 to all of their residents.”
Gélinas believes this could complicate any plans for moving those beds elsewhere.
“You cannot just shut those things down,” she said.
Conservative MPP Stéphane Sarrazin from Glengarry-Prescott-Russell emphasized that it’s crucial for people to keep in mind that Ontario’s Long-Term Care Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta also oversees francophone affairs.
“If one of them facilities is actually identified as a facility that offers French service then I’m sure they have to keep up with regulation,” Sarrazin told Radio-Canada.
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p>Mayor worries about isolating seniors h2 >Similarto his fellow mayorin North Glengarry, Yves Laviolette, the mayorofthe Townshipof Alfredand Plantagenetsaidconsolidationwouldprove difficult, and possibly isolating, forthose livingat Pinecrest.
“Itwon’tbeeasytogoto Cornwall, speciallyinwintertime,”Laviollette told Radio-Canadainaninterview.”Andthefactthatit’s[currently] closeby,[visitors]can go inthemorningor night.”
“It’s noteasyforthemto moveto Cornwallandnothaveany visitsatall,”headded.
Southbridgedidn’trespondto Radio-Canada’srequestforcommentbeforethedeadline.
Public feedbackontheproposalisstillbeingaccepted , withaclosingdateof Oct.16.
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