Home care programs at the Jubilee Residence remained in place Wednesday, allaying concerns – for now – among some elderly tenants who feared losing them.
The Royal Canadian Legion, which owns the seniors’ home, had previously planned to withdraw from the Northern Health Region’s (NHR’s) group living program effective Tuesday.
But on Wednesday, NHR spokeswoman Twyla Storey said there had been no changes.
“At this moment, the home care programs that run at the [Jubilee Residence] remain status quo,” she said. “We have not met with the Legion to further discuss the future of the continuation of these programs.”
Some feared the Legion’s initial decision would leave Jubilee tenants more socially isolated.
The change, if implemented, would end some or all on-site group activities organized by the NHR to help ensure tenants remain healthy and socially engaged. Tenants would have to travel off-site for at least some programs.
The change would also prohibit the NHR from using the Jubilee communal kitchen, meaning meals delivered to seniors would not be as fresh.
This would also mean seniors who do not rely on the NHR’s bulk meal program, but utilize it as a means of convenience and socialization, would lose that option.
Another change would see the NHR forced to remove its overnight health care aide from the facility.
Attendees at an August Legion housing committee meeting told The Reminder that attendees passed a motion to delay the changes, but they did not describe the motion as permanent.
