Lambton County ‘Small House’ Too Costly: Nursing Home CEO

The CEO of A Non-Profit Long-Term Care Operator in Sarnia Says Lambton County’s $ 12-Million Plan To Build A 12-Bed “Small House” Project for Dementia Care at Lambton MeadowView Villa is too.

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Heather Martin, CEO of Vision 74 Inc., has asked to speak to country council wednesday as the project moves into the homestretch of provincial approvals in order to begin construction near petrolia. However, She First Will Need Councillors to Vote to Reconider Their Earlier Approval of the Expansion Before She can Say Her Piece at the meeting.

The Small House Approach to Long-Term Care Consults A Small Group of Residents Living, Dining and Socializing Together, INTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL APPACH WHERE A LARGER NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ARE GROUPD ON FLOORS OR UNITS.

“I Don’t Think Anyone Can Discount the Benefit from Having Smaller Units,” Martin Said. But She Believes What the County is Proposing is not affordable and she’s asking Council to Reconide Going Ahead with it.

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She Said the Current Capital Funding Model in Ontario is based on spending approximataly $ 360,000 in bed, compared to $ 1 million a bed for the country project.

“That Money Could do Way more, for Way more people,” Martin Said.

The Difference for the County is it’s able to tap Local Property Taxes to help pay for its project, Martin Said.

In 2020, The County Estimated A 10-Bed Small House Unit Could Be Built for About $ 4 Million, But the Project Later Increased to 12 Beds, and the cost estimated Increased Several Times.

“At some point in time, you have to say enough is enough,” Martin Said. “It’s not feasible.”

Ontario’s Funding Model is based on Operating 32-Bed Units and the Cost of Running Such a Small Area Would Be “Staggering,” Martin Said. “It’s nonsensical to do this.”

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But Michael Gorgey, The County’s General Manager of Long-Term Care, Said Small Houses Are “A Proven Model” that reduce hospitalization, enhance Quality of Care and Improve Quality of Life “For Residents with Complex Dementia.”

A County Report Says The Small House Model is designed to create “A Home-Like Environment where Residents Experience Increased Automy and Personalized Care” in Smaller, More intimat Setting.

Gorgey Said A Growing Number of Small House Project Are Being Created Across Canada and “While It’s Particularly New To Ontario, It’s not a new Model of Care.”

“While the Initial Construction Costs May be Higher Than Traditional Long-Term Care Builds, Research Shows that this approach delivers Better Quality Outcomes for Residents While Generacting significant cost to our health care system,” Gorgey Said.

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According to Research, Residents of Small Houses have Lower Rates of Infectious Disease, Less Violent and Aggressive Behaviour and Reduced Need for Anti-Psychotic Medication, He Said.

The County Plans to Use Reserve and Borrowing, Along With Some Provincial Grants, To Pay for Building The 12-Bed Small House Project at the Existing County Long-Term Care Site. It’s Currently Seeking Additional Provincial Construction “Top-Up” Funding and, If That’s Approved, The County is expecting to receive about $ 6 million from the province During 25 years to help offset Borrowing Costs, Gorgey Said.

If the Project is Delayed by the Passing of A Motion of Reconsideration on Wednesday, it could put the top-up subsidy at Risk, the report Says.

“We’re really at the last mile here,” Gorgey Said about Plans for the Start of Construction in April or May, Panding Final Provincial Approval for the Additional Subsidy.

Construction is expected to take 15 to 18 months, he said.

[email protected]

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