Not enough beds in new Colville Manor, say some residents
By David MacDonald
david@peicanada.com
The province unveiled more specific details on what the new Colville Manor in Souris may look like during a public meeting held this afternoon, but some residents expressed concern there would not be enough beds to deal with an aging population.
Close to 100 people attended the meeting held at St Mary’s Hall in Souris with officials unveiling pre-design plans for the new facility. The project is expected to break ground later this year, with the projected opening in the fall of 2011. Officials at the meeting included Souris-Elmira MLA Allan Campbell, Director of Community Hospitals and Continuing Care Cecil Villard, Souris Hospital administrator Terry Campbell, Marsha Pike, project manager for the manor replacement project, and Raymonde Arsenault of the Department of Transportation and Public Works
While many were pleased with aspects of the new manor, a handful of residents expressed concern about the number of beds. The proposed number for the new manor is 51 long-term care beds and one respite bed, the same as the current facility.
Nancy MacLean-Eveson wonders if the province will have to go through this process again as the baby boomer population ages and need long-term care services, and said the province should have planned for that eventuality.
“Fifty-two beds are great but it’s not adequate for the amount of people the manor services. The number of beds should be based on the needs of each individual community.”
Susan Birt said while moving to a new facility is a positive step, there should be more beds and more flexibility in what the beds can be used for.
“We should have the number of beds we need and be adaptable to the needs of the community. If we need five respite beds, then we have five.”
Souris Hospital administrator Terry Campbell said over the last six months, about four or five people have been in the Souris Hospital waiting for a bed in the manor.
Souris-Elmira MLA Allan Campbell told the audience the original conceptual design of the new Colville Manor had actually been 48 beds, but he was able to get that number back up to 52 after speaking with senior staff and members of cabinet. “I was successful in stressing the importance of keeping what we have.”
Raymonde Arsenault of the Department of Transportation and Public Works said the design is by no means final and that the building would be designed so it would be possible to make additions to the facility.
The architects for the project are Bermark Guimond Hammarlund Jones of Charlottetown and Montgomery Sisam of Toronto.
This is a good thing for the community! And long over due. It will be great to see this new facility but I too agree with comments that there will not be enough beds. Why build a facility and not have adequate beds when it is a know fact that there is a waiting list to get into current facility with the same amount of beds? Common sense would say make it bigger!!!!! to accommodate at least the extra people on the waiting list. Give all families a piece of mind that their loved ones are taken care of and not have to wait for who knows how long for a bed to open up in the manor. Take care of all our older generation!!!!!! Not just some!
Number of beds should be looked at according to the number of people already in the Manor and on the waiting list!!!
Guaranteed if anyone on this panel deciding on how large to make the facility with family member in or waiting to get into facility would agree with more beds. It usually is the ones who don't have family in or waiting that don't care. Other than that it's great to hear of the new facility!!!!!!