Submitted by the Fairvern Board of Directors
Considering the recent Doppler article (January 31, 2020) regarding the “Imminent Closure of
Fairvern Nursing Home” [Fairvern nursing home could close without the support of District council], the Fairvern Board of Directors would like to respond and clarify the concerns brought forward in these articles.
The Fairvern Board is aware of the need to build up to a 160-bed Long Term Care Home, located on a parcel of land adjacent to the MAHC [Huntsville Hospital site], to serve the current and future needs of seniors in the District of Muskoka.
Facts:
• 50 per cent of the population of the District of Muskoka will be 55 years of age or older by 2021.
• 79 per cent of the residents admitted to Fairvern between 2010 and 2019 had been living within the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN.
• 163 individuals are currently waitlisted for admission to Fairvern.
To that end,
1. The Fairvern Board is convinced that there is a need currently and for the foreseeable future for additional Long-Term Care Home beds in the District of Muskoka to meet the needs of our senior population;
2. The Fairvern Board recognizes that it is not in a financial position to fund the building of a new 160-bed home, no matter how enthusiastic the Board Members are;
3. The Fairvern Board of Directors endorses the District of Muskoka to apply for an additional 64 bed licenses to build a 160-bed Long Term Care Home in Huntsville;
4. The Fairvern Board has endorsed the transfer of its current 96 bed licenses to the District of Muskoka to be integrated into the new 160-bed District of Muskoka home;
5. The Fairvern Board would prefer that the home be established with a not-for-profit governance model. However, it is essential that demonstrated financial funding to develop and build a new 160-bed home is essential to ensure Ministry approval;
6. The District of Muskoka is to be commended for their willingness to consider and develop that application and assume the governance of Fairvern. The District of Muskoka has recognized the importance of retaining the current 96 Fairvern bed licenses and applying for an additional 64 beds, totaling 160 beds to meet the needs of residents of the District of Muskoka and surrounding areas;
7. The Fairvern Board gratefully appreciates all the support of both the District and Municipal governments, local developers, businesses and individual sponsors over the years and their commitment to making the new home in Huntsville a reality; and
8. The Fairvern Board remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition of all Fairvern residents and the employment security of its staff as they continue to provide care at the new Fairvern.
It is the Fairvern Board’s sincere hope that the duly elected Councillors and Mayors voting at the District of Muskoka Committee Meeting on February 18, 2020 will approve the submission to the Ministry for the additional beds and support the development of a new 160-bed home in Huntsville.
Heather Hunter, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Fairvern Nursing Home
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Can someone with knowledge of the funding models please share? If the District takes on responsibility for building and operating this new “Fairvern” facility, will the general tax levy be relied upon to fund the facility? Is the funding going to be apportioned based on property assessment values OR a model based on use or demand?
Muskoka residents need to better understand the capital and ongoing operational funding details.
Please publish.
Fraser Govan
Chair, Lake of Bays Association, Planning and Government Relations
Please consider this..for your own Future care for you&/or loved one ?❤️?
Please support this much needed facility in our area
There are wants and need!. This is a Need.
I trust District Council will make the right decision for all of Muskoka and support the 160 bed redevelopment of Fairvern by submitting the submission to the Ministry.
“It is clearly the right thing to proceed.”
A peer reviewed paper published in the PLOS MEDICINE journal today indicates that “ for profit” nursing homes provide inferior care to seniors. This information is based on years. of research in US and Canada. I hope that local decision makers and the provincial government will pay attention to this study as the future of Fairvern is discussed.
The Conference Board of Canada gives a formula in 2017 dollars for construction of a new long term care home. The cost of a 160 bed facility will be in excess of $50 million dollars. Balance that against the payroll of the increased number of employees required to operate the facility, which will be flowing into the local economy, approximately $5 million annually. and the short term boost that a $50 million build provides for construction workers and tradesmen. . Always good to have some real numbers to consider.
Celia Finley
Hmmm. Staff were told the district has picked up FV. This meeting hasn’t even happened yet! What do we know? Who do we believe? What about the paddle money raised for the new build? What if there isn’t a new build? Sad day for Huntsville. Sad day for Fairvern long term care, residents and staff. It would seem we lost our HEART when our dedicated administrator Tracy Badger left. Lots of questions. No answers.