P.E.I. Atlantic Baptist Home has put a halt to admitting new residents and says it may be forced to close 41 beds if the province doesn’t increase funding.
With the home and the province failing to agree to a funding increase during the summer, an arbitration hearing has been set for the end of October
Victor Shea, executive director of the home, told The Guardian last week by the time a decision is rendered in 2018 it would be too late because the nursing home is losing too much money.
Reached Monday, Shea said there was “nothing new yet’’ to report on the status of pending bed closures.
He added the “number one priority’’ at the moment is to look after the residents.
He did, however, say an update was coming within a couple of days, perhaps in reference to Thursday’s public meeting.
Pat Gill, who is gravely concerned over what will happen to her husband, Brian, a resident at the home, certainly wants answers now.
“I don’t have a good feeling (about Thursday’s meeting) but what I would like to know from government is how they plan to handle this impossible influx of 41 people into the system,’’ she said.
Gill attended a family information meeting last Wednesday at the P.E.I. Atlantic Baptist Home.
RELATED: 'Blindsided' – P.E.I. woman worries about nursing home future
Nothing new was learned, she noted, but Shea apologized for the way the situation has been handled so far.
She said many people learned about the pending bed closures from staff rather than from the board.
“Then they gave us assurances that nobody would be put out on the street,’’ she added.
“Our main concern is the care and safety of our loved ones. We love the Atlantic Baptist Home, that is why we are fighting so hard for it.’’
The public meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church at 7 Tamarac Ave.
