OLDS — Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Seasons Encore in Olds have temporarily increased the number of designated supportive living beds in town as part of ongoing efforts to address capacity pressures in acute care facilities.
Nine new designated supportive living beds were added at Seasons Encore on March 1 to support patients who no longer need acute care services and can be transitioned to more appropriate sites of care.
Those waiting in community settings, such as a home or lodge, who require a higher level of care may also be placed into these spaces.
These nine spaces will remain operational for a year to help cope with demand in acute care at sites throughout AHS Central Zone.
Designated supportive living offers a home-like environment that provides 24-hour on-site scheduled and unscheduled professional and personal care and support, provided by licensed practical nurses and health-care aides.
An AHS news release issued March 6 says patients and their families will be supported as those patients move into these temporary spaces.
It says in those temporary spaces, those patients will receive “the same level of care and support as all other continuing care clients.”
“Every effort will be made to place patients awaiting continuing care as close to home as possible,” the release says.
“However, in times of increased demand, there may be patients who are placed outside their home community or community of first choice.”
Before that 12-month period comes to an end, an AHS news release says residents remaining in those temporary spaces will be relocated to “alternative continuing care spaces” to allow for the decommissioning of the temporary spaces.
“Having additional capacity added in Olds will be a big benefit to the residents of Mountain View County, allowing patients to remain as close to home as possible,” Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper said.
“This additional capacity will help ensure the right services and supports are in place to best meet the needs of those we serve,” Lori Sparrow, senior operating officer community and seniors health, AHS Central Zone added.
