Roseway Manor in Shelburne, NS. Photo: Roseway Manor
Two senior homes in Kim Maslands’ riding of Queens-Shelburne are facing difficult times with one set to close.
The first facility set to close is Meadowbrooke Manor in Brookfield. The relatively small facility is operated privately by Brenda Roach.
In the legislature, Masland spoke about why the facility is closing, “Unfortunately, many of the beds at the facility are not occupied and the situation is no longer financially sustainable.”
Masland says when senior care homes find themselves struggling to operate the province should be eager to assist them.
“Whatever the reason these facilities are closing for, we should be looking for ways to help rather than just adding more seniors to the wait-list for long-term care.”
Masland says Meadowbrooke currently houses seven seniors and employs a staff of around ten. Once the facility shuts its doors at the end of the month the residents will be rehomed elsewhere and the jobs will cease to exist.
“As a government, we need to help people so we should be looking at opportunities like this and finding out what needs to be done to get the facilities up to standard.”
During Question Period last week, Masland asked Health Minister Zach Churchill why facilities that aren’t at full occupancy arent used to help get people off the waitlist for long-term care.
Churchill responded, saying “Meadowbrook Manor would be a private company that is operating that facility. It has decided to close its doors. The Health Authority has gone into that community already and is assessing the residents at Meadowbrook for placement in other long-term care options that are available.”
Churchill went on to say the Liberal government has invested significantly in long-term care.
The second facility facing issues is Roseway Manor in Shelburne. Former Premier Stephen McNeil said during a campaign stop in 2017 that his government was committed to starting the process of replacing Roseway Manor immediately.
No major work has been done at Roseway since then and upon last week’s budget reveal Masland expressed her disappointment that there was no assistance on the way for the facility.
“I was shocked. I couldn’t even hide it. The Minister ( Zach Churchill), whose constituency is close to the facility, should be aware of Roseway and what his government has promised over the years,” says Masland. “I have visited the manor many times. I can’t praise the staff enough. They are doing everything they can given the circumstances, but the building is failing them.”
Roseway Manor currently has 66 beds for long-term care and Masland says a facility of that size cannot be ignored by the government.
