Municipal council here will send a letter to the health ministry expressing concern over the loss of nine long-term care beds at a local nursing home.
Nursing and retirement home operator Caressant Care has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to transfer nine beds from the company’s facility in Harriston and seven from its Fergus operation to Cambridge Country Manor.
Public meetings on the proposal were held in Fergus and Harriston on Nov. 25.
Several councillors expressed concerns about the proposal at a Nov. 4 meeting. Subsequently, Mayor George Bridge, councillors Ron Faulkner and Mary Lou Colwell and Minto staff members met with Caressant Care representatives.
A staff report presented at the Dec. 16 Minto council meeting states a town staff member attended the public meeting and took notes on the comments and concerns that arose.
The report notes North Wellington Health Care CEO Jerome Quenneville indicated concern and opposition to the proposal, projecting longer waits for long-term beds, which increases expense.
“Personal support workers are concerned with loss of employment with the bed reduction. Community concern was expressed with reduced options and the potential that once beds have left they are not likely to return,” the town report states.
The report adds, “it is important Caressant Care remain viable in Minto … If beds are to be relocated, Caressant Care must stand by its commitment to improve care and retain all RN and RNA staff.
“While the loss of beds could slightly reduce the opportunity for local residents to access care in Harriston, in the long run it is likely fewer people from out of town will reside at Caressant Care.”
The report continues, “It can be expected that fewer long-term care residents from outside the community and even minor job losses (other than RNs and RNAs) will impact on the local economy albeit in a minor way. It will mean slightly less spin-off business and spending in the community.”
The report, prepared by CAO Bill White, notes council must balance its concerns with the reality a local private business “must be able to make decisions on its own viability” and the fact “the provision of long-term residential care is not a mandate of a local municipality.”
“The more we get into the detail it seems we’re into somebody else’s responsibility,” White pointed out.
Council approved a resolution to send a letter to the ministry stating that if Caressant Care proceeds with relocating the beds “it stand by its commitment to the long-term viability of the facility in Minto, and improve care by reducing the size of wards and increasing the number of private rooms.”
Council also plans to seek a delegation at the 2015 OGRA/ROMA conference with the minister of health and other related ministries regarding “maintaining strong viable long-term care options in rural Ontario.”
