When the new Acropolis Manor is completed there will be only one new bed added to the senior’s facility, a situation which seems rather silly considering the need in the community and a result that will not provide much comfort for those that currently sit on a waiting list for a spot in the local senior’s care residence. With that nugget of information made public, local advocates have begun the process of urging Northern Health build more units for seniors in need in the area. They began their journey by approaching city council last week, briefing them on their concerns and solicit their support for expanded care facilities for local seniors.
The current state of senior’s care on the North coast presents a situation that has many asking Northern Health to keep the current Acropolis Manor up and running as well, in order to provide services to those in the community.
The current long term care facility is slated for demolition upon completion of the new Manor; a decision which many feel is rather foolish, considering the ever expanding need for services in the province. The efforts of those advocates were outlined in Thursday’s Daily News.
NH URGED TO BUILD MORE SENIORS’ UNITS
New building means only one new bed: advocate
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Page one
The new replacement facility for Acropolis Manor will do nothing to help those who are on the waiting list for assisted living facilities, said a local health advocate.
Retired nurse Peggy Davenport told city council there is no way Northern Health (NH) should demolish the current Acropolis Manor until the health authority addresses the need for assisted living facilities in Prince Rupert.
“It has been publicly acknowledged by Susanne Johnston, former chief operating officer, and Sue Beckermann, former Northwest administrator, that the plans for the new facility does not provide enough space for the current people in need of complex care and assisted living housing when those currently at Acropolis, in the hospital and on the waiting list are counted,” said Davenport.
While the new facility is being designed so additional units can be added on at a later date, once the old facility is demolished, anyone currently in need of assisted living (able to live on their own but in need of access to a caregiver 24 hours a day) will be left with “inadequate and unsafe care until there is some sudden event, such as an accident and the person will lie in a hospital bed.”
She said there are currently a number of Rupertites, including two who are blind, who are not properly cared for through home support services.
“Why destroy Acropolis Manor to make a parking lot? It doesn’t make sense financially except for the one thing that comes to mind. NH does not want to hire support staff.
Coun. Tony Briglio acknowledged that the new facility will not add new spaces.
“I fully concur with Peggy Davenport’s report in terms of the need for additional units at the new facility,” Said Briglio.
Acropolis Manor, when it was originally built, had 50 beds, and then there were 20 beds at the fourth floor of the hospital for a total of 70 beds.
However, with the deficiencies at Acropolis Manor, 20 beds were closed knocking the number down to 30 and the total to 50.
“Anybody looking at that today would say we had 50, we are going to 71 (at the new facility), that’s 21 more beds. But we don’t we actually have one more bed than we had.”
However, he does not believe NH has said “no” to additional units, but rather they were still in discussions.
“They still have not come out and said “no” in respect to that.”
He added NH”s perception of the current requirements may come from census numbers that do not reflect the future of the community.
“We did not want to get into a debate with Northern Health about numbers and delay the project any further,” he said.
As for Acropolis Manor, it is a legitimate question to ask what else the facility could be used for, said Briglio.
“As much as I know, there are people in Prince Rupert, perhaps myself included, who would like to see something done with the facility, ultimately it is Northern Health’s decision,” he said. “And they have been getting the message loud and clear they need to make greater use of it than simply demolishing it.”
Council will send letter asking NH to consider additional assisted living units for new care facility, knowing the population is increasingly aging. Council will also ask if Northern Health has come to a conclusion about Acropolis and how it was made.“I think the community needs to know that,” said Briglio.
The current state of senior’s care on the North coast presents a situation that has many asking Northern Health to keep the current Acropolis Manor up and running as well, in order to provide services to those in the community.
The current long term care facility is slated for demolition upon completion of the new Manor; a decision which many feel is rather foolish, considering the ever expanding need for services in the province. The efforts of those advocates were outlined in Thursday’s Daily News.
NH URGED TO BUILD MORE SENIORS’ UNITS
New building means only one new bed: advocate
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Page one
The new replacement facility for Acropolis Manor will do nothing to help those who are on the waiting list for assisted living facilities, said a local health advocate.
Retired nurse Peggy Davenport told city council there is no way Northern Health (NH) should demolish the current Acropolis Manor until the health authority addresses the need for assisted living facilities in Prince Rupert.
“It has been publicly acknowledged by Susanne Johnston, former chief operating officer, and Sue Beckermann, former Northwest administrator, that the plans for the new facility does not provide enough space for the current people in need of complex care and assisted living housing when those currently at Acropolis, in the hospital and on the waiting list are counted,” said Davenport.
While the new facility is being designed so additional units can be added on at a later date, once the old facility is demolished, anyone currently in need of assisted living (able to live on their own but in need of access to a caregiver 24 hours a day) will be left with “inadequate and unsafe care until there is some sudden event, such as an accident and the person will lie in a hospital bed.”
She said there are currently a number of Rupertites, including two who are blind, who are not properly cared for through home support services.
“Why destroy Acropolis Manor to make a parking lot? It doesn’t make sense financially except for the one thing that comes to mind. NH does not want to hire support staff.
Coun. Tony Briglio acknowledged that the new facility will not add new spaces.
“I fully concur with Peggy Davenport’s report in terms of the need for additional units at the new facility,” Said Briglio.
Acropolis Manor, when it was originally built, had 50 beds, and then there were 20 beds at the fourth floor of the hospital for a total of 70 beds.
However, with the deficiencies at Acropolis Manor, 20 beds were closed knocking the number down to 30 and the total to 50.
“Anybody looking at that today would say we had 50, we are going to 71 (at the new facility), that’s 21 more beds. But we don’t we actually have one more bed than we had.”
However, he does not believe NH has said “no” to additional units, but rather they were still in discussions.
“They still have not come out and said “no” in respect to that.”
He added NH”s perception of the current requirements may come from census numbers that do not reflect the future of the community.
“We did not want to get into a debate with Northern Health about numbers and delay the project any further,” he said.
As for Acropolis Manor, it is a legitimate question to ask what else the facility could be used for, said Briglio.
“As much as I know, there are people in Prince Rupert, perhaps myself included, who would like to see something done with the facility, ultimately it is Northern Health’s decision,” he said. “And they have been getting the message loud and clear they need to make greater use of it than simply demolishing it.”
Council will send letter asking NH to consider additional assisted living units for new care facility, knowing the population is increasingly aging. Council will also ask if Northern Health has come to a conclusion about Acropolis and how it was made.“I think the community needs to know that,” said Briglio.
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