If it was input the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care was after on whether to move forward with the redevelopment of the Fairvern Nursing Home at a public meeting held Tuesday — it got it.
Despite significant snowfall more than 50 people packed the Friends Multi-Purpose Room at the Huntsville Public Library Tuesday, December 12 to voice their support for the redevelopment of Fairvern, founded in 1982 as a not-for-profit corporation. Plans for the home’s redevelopment include the approval of an additional 20 beds in order to make the project financially feasible, offer more amenities to residents and improve on the home’s occupancy rate, which is currently sitting at 99 per cent. As of last month, there were also 137 people on the waiting list for Fairvern, according to Chair of the Fairvern Board of Directors Rob Laver.
“Compare that to mid-2015 when the waiting list was 50, that’s an increase of over 35 per cent in 18 months. Clearly there’s a need for more long-term care beds in Huntsville and Muskoka,” insisted Laver who attributed the rapid increase to aging baby boomers, a growing community as well as people retiring to their cottage and bringing their family with them.
The home is currently a 76-bed operation located in the old hospital building, which is almost 70 years old. The home has been ranked as a C home by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which no longer meets today’s standards, those in attendance heard.
A building of this age represents many challenges from an operating perspective. We struggle on an almost daily basis to maintain the infrastructure. Things like the elevator maintenance, plumbing, roofs – over the past four or five years maintaining this ancient infrastructure has become a serious financial challengeChair of the board of Fairvern Rob Laver
He also said that the home’s existing design and layout has become a challenge for the residents as well, many of whom arrive with an increasing amount of behavioural issues, including dementia.
“Despite all of this, Fairvern continues to be the home of choice in this community. This is demonstrated by our annual resident and family satisfaction surveys,” said Laver, who also noted the dedication and commitment of staff to provide the best care possible for residents.
Plans to redevelop Fairvern began in the fall of 2016. Its redevelopment has support from the District of Muskoka, which has committed $10.5 million (about 35 to 40 per cent of the cost of the total build) as well as in-kind donations, a contribution of $250,000 towards the road to the new site and other support from the Town of Huntsville.
We’ve been given a piece of land on which to build, located on Muskoka Road 3 North at Earls Road, adjacent to the hospital property. The new Fairvern will become part of a much larger campus of care catering to seniors. This new property will allow us to rebuild Fairvern with no disruption to our current operation and it will also allow us to expand in the future as necessary.Rob Laver
Laver also noted that it’s envisioned that various levels of care will be available in such a campus. “So we have strong financial backers and a piece of property on which to build, what we need now is final approval from the Ministry to proceed,” he added as many heads turned to the front of the room, towards Bryan Sarles, Senior Program Consultant with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
One by one, municipal representatives, builders, people in the health care sector, members of the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (NSM LHIN), Fairvern administrators, employees and friends from all walks of life were there to lend their support and many stood up and asked that their voice be counted as they expressed the need, and a sense of urgency, for additional long-term care beds in the community.
One of the residents asked Sarles what the hold-up for approving the additional beds as part of the redevelopment might be.
“This is part of a long process of getting the beds approved and getting the redevelopment approved and getting a licence to operate the new home approved,” he responded.
“So this meeting today is one component of several steps towards the finish line of approval,” Sarles explained, adding that the feedback he collects from the meeting will be turned into a report which he will deliver to his director who will use the report as well as data on demographics, a financial review of Fairvern, input from the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network as well as other data to arrive at a decision.
“It’s a long process, but I’d say that it needs to be because it has to be done right so that at the end of the day the best possible care is provided to our loved ones and those who are going to be living in the home,” added Sarles.
Still that long process did not sit well with many in attendance, particularly those speaking on behalf of residents biding their time either in hospital or at home, and sometimes with very little support, while waiting for a long-term care bed.
“I am 71. I expect that sooner or later I will need a spot and I would like it to be Fairvern but on the other hand I have a 48-year-old daughter who needs a spot in long-term care now and there isn’t a spot for her. So with that in mind, I would like it to go ahead quicker [rather] than slower,” said a woman in the audience.
Laver said once Ministry approval is granted it can take up to 36 months until the ribbon cutting stage for a new facility.
District Commissioner of Community Services Rick Williams also expressed urgency in getting the approvals. “I think an analogy to justice delayed would be justice denied. In this case the timing is not only critical for the residents that are there now [and] the community’s need, but also the fact of District Council’s ending participation. We have approval in principle for the $10.5 million to be confirmed upon the approval of the 20 beds,” he said. Williams was particularly concerned with District Council’s mandate ending with municipal elections taking place October 22, 2018. “Urgency I think is paramount,” he added.
Someone in the audience who said she sat on the Board of Fairvern about 10 years ago said there was talk of redeveloping Fairvern back then. She asked when talk would end and action begin, a question which prompted applause from those present.
“I think we all share that – let’s build,” said Laver.
Those present also heard that public works staff at the District have been instructed, pending Ministry approval, to change the forecast for the expansion of water and sewer services to include a redeveloped Fairvern.
Over and over again those in attendance questioned the number of beds, given the need.
It appears to me that the 20 beds are not going to be enough and with all these new beds that the Province supposedly has announced, I can’t understand why they wouldn’t immediately plan to add more beds while we’re building the thing instead of trying to add more later. Perry Township Councillor
A staff member at Fairvern asked how the Ministry determines the number of beds. The Ministry representative said he could not answer the question but said he would note the question and suggested that she send the Ministry an email, provided at the meeting, with her question.
In summary, the Ministry representative said, “Impressionistically, it’s clear. We haven’t had one dissenting vote here today. There’s been a clear desire to see this project move forward and move forward expediently as much as possible and to see as many beds come to this community as possible. Is that fair to say?” he questioned, as everyone nodded their head in agreement.
If you didn’t have an opportunity to attend the meeting and have something to say, or you’d like to say more, you have until December 29 to provide written input. You can email the Ministry by quoting Fairvern Nursing Home Project #18-030 at [email protected] or you can fax your submission to 416-327-7603.
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A very emphatic, yes. Let’s get on with it. Honestly what’s the hold up? It should have been planned for years ago. We’ve known since the 1950s about this baby boom and 65 years later we’re still asking should we plan for it? Come on.
Great news !!
Wonderful! It would be even more wonderful if Fairvern could expand ONE HUNDRED and twenty beds!