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Needed seniors lodge funding welcomed: area operator

Additional pandemic costs are running at $10,000 a week
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Bruce Beattie, chair of Mountain View Seniors' Housing , said staff and administration have "done a great job to minimize any kind of outbreak." File photo/MVP Staff

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – Newly announced funding for Alberta’s seniors lodges and other long-term care facilities will be helpful, says Bruce Beattie, chairman of Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) and county reeve.

The province says an additional $170 million is being made available to help the facilities deal with COVID-19-related costs.

MVSH owns and operates seniors lodges in Carstairs, Didsbury, Sundre and Olds, as well as other housing units. It is funded in part through requisitions from area municipalities, including Mountain View County.

The pandemic has led to large, unforeseen costs for MVSH, including for additional cleaning and staff. Those new costs are coming in at about $10,000 a week.

“It will certainly help our situation and it will help municipalities because our only alternative would be to requisition (more money) and we don’t want to do that if the province will come through with the funding,” said Beattie.

“We have been tracking all of our expenses since the outbreak, since March 13, and identifying those related specifically to the COVID situation.”

More than half of all COVID-19 fatalities in Canada have occurred in long-term care facilities. There have been no cases in MVSH facilities.

“I’m very, very proud of our (MVSH) staff and administration and the job they have all done,” he said. “They have done a great job to minimize any kind of outbreak. Some of the rules have been tough and it’s certainly difficult for the residents but they are making the best of it too.”

The province says the new funding will be used for enhanced staffing, for extra cleaning supplies, and to address lost accommodation revenue.

“We know from our experience over the past few months that seniors are most at risk from COVID-19,” said Minister of Health Tyler Shandro. “If our province is to carefully and gradually lift public health restrictions, we must first make sure our most vulnerable will remain safe.”

Of the $170 million, $14.2 million will be allocated each month, with the funding retroactive to March 15. The funding will be dolled out in coordination with Alberta Health Services and Alberta Seniors and Housing.

It is not known exactly how much of the new money will come to MVSH.

The official opposition NDP says the government has been slow in providing extra funding to long-term care facilities to deal with the pandemic.

“This minister (Shandro) failed to protect Alberta’s seniors when it mattered the most,” said NDP seniors critic Lori Sigurdson. “Continuing care operators asked for help dealing with COVID-19 weeks ago and he didn’t listen.

“Now, the minister announces funding retroactive to March, after infections have spread and lives have been lost. Albertans have to wonder: why did he take so long and how much suffering could have been prevented if he acted sooner?”

The opposition has called for Shandro to be fired from his portfolio.

The Rural Municipalities of Alberta, which represents 69 municipalities, has also called for more funding for long-term care facilities to help with COVID-related expenses.


Dan Singleton

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