Cindy Byrne is worried about where her 91-year-old father-in-law, Michael, will live now that his community care facility is abruptly closing its doors next month.
Family members of the 20 residents at the French Creek Lodge in Lower Montague were informed Thursday the facility will close on Aug. 31.
A letter distributed to all residents from owner W. Jay Knowles, offers no explanation for the closure and calls to the lodge were directed to the provincial health department.
The facility is a private one, but the province subsidizes the living costs of 18 of the 20 current residents.
The Department of Family and Human Services is working with families to help place residents into alternate community care facilities.
But Byrne says she and other family members of the residents believe government should be doing more to keep this facility open.
“Something has to be done. I mean, it’s a nice facility so why doesn’t the government step in or somebody come in and take it over?” Byrne said.
They have been told there are enough alternate spaces available in the Kings County region, but Byrne says her 91-year-old father-in-law chose to live at the French Creek Lodge and he and other residents do not want to leave.
She worries about the health and social impacts on Michael and others like him who have been enjoying living at this facility.
“You want them to be safe, happy and content. But to uproot a 91-year-old person or really any of them – one of the residents has been there for 28 years, one of the staff has been there for 28 years – what are these people going to do?” Byrne said.
“It not only impacts the resident and the workers, it impacts the family and everything else.”
Kevin Barnes, director of finance and corporate management for the Department of Health and Wellness, says government caseworkers are working with the families to ensure smooth transitions for the residents.
Everyone involved realizes this move will have a significant impact on some of the residents who must now choose a new home, but since the facility is a private one, government is not taking any steps to keep it open, Barnes said.
“No question it’s going to have an impact on the residents and we’re very sensitive to that and I think we’ll stay connected and work very closely with those individuals over the next month to make sure they get a satisfactory alternate arrangement and to minimize the stress and hardship caused.”
He noted the reason for the closure is because the owner determined it was not financially feasible to continue operations.
Officials from the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning will be at the facility next week to discuss employment supports for the 14 staff members who will now be out of job on Aug. 31.
“We’re very cognizant that staff are impacted by this closure and we’ll want to make sure they’re connected with post-employment services and alternate employment services.”
Cindy Byrne is worried about where her 91-year-old father-in-law, Michael, will live now that his community care facility is abruptly closing its doors next month.
Family members of the 20 residents at the French Creek Lodge in Lower Montague were informed Thursday the facility will close on Aug. 31.
A letter distributed to all residents from owner W. Jay Knowles, offers no explanation for the closure and calls to the lodge were directed to the provincial health department.
The facility is a private one, but the province subsidizes the living costs of 18 of the 20 current residents.
The Department of Family and Human Services is working with families to help place residents into alternate community care facilities.
But Byrne says she and other family members of the residents believe government should be doing more to keep this facility open.
“Something has to be done. I mean, it’s a nice facility so why doesn’t the government step in or somebody come in and take it over?” Byrne said.
They have been told there are enough alternate spaces available in the Kings County region, but Byrne says her 91-year-old father-in-law chose to live at the French Creek Lodge and he and other residents do not want to leave.
She worries about the health and social impacts on Michael and others like him who have been enjoying living at this facility.
“You want them to be safe, happy and content. But to uproot a 91-year-old person or really any of them – one of the residents has been there for 28 years, one of the staff has been there for 28 years – what are these people going to do?” Byrne said.
“It not only impacts the resident and the workers, it impacts the family and everything else.”
Kevin Barnes, director of finance and corporate management for the Department of Health and Wellness, says government caseworkers are working with the families to ensure smooth transitions for the residents.
Everyone involved realizes this move will have a significant impact on some of the residents who must now choose a new home, but since the facility is a private one, government is not taking any steps to keep it open, Barnes said.
“No question it’s going to have an impact on the residents and we’re very sensitive to that and I think we’ll stay connected and work very closely with those individuals over the next month to make sure they get a satisfactory alternate arrangement and to minimize the stress and hardship caused.”
He noted the reason for the closure is because the owner determined it was not financially feasible to continue operations.
Officials from the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning will be at the facility next week to discuss employment supports for the 14 staff members who will now be out of job on Aug. 31.
“We’re very cognizant that staff are impacted by this closure and we’ll want to make sure they’re connected with post-employment services and alternate employment services.”
