Alberta’s Minister of Seniors was at Bethany Cochrane last week to tout the province’s new housing strategy, while the seniors care facility continues to push the government to fund its planned expansion.
Lori Sigurdson joined the crowd, which was decked out in Western wear, at the annual Bethany Cochrane Stampede Barbecue Aug. 14.
Cowpokes mused over the proposed site redevelopment plan for Cochrane’s long-term and supportive living seniors care facility located at 32 Quigley Drive, while taking in a country band and cocktails.
Sigurdson commended the facility for helping seniors remain in their communities and indicating that she is hearing “loud and clear” the voice of advocacy for more options for seniors to remain in Cochrane.
She also spoke about the province’s launch of a housing strategy and pledge of $1.2 billion over five years to affordable housing. The ministry is currently seeking public input to develop the strategy.
“Alberta was one of two provinces that didn’t have a strategy,” said the minister, who has 25 years under her belt as a social worker. P.E.I would be the only province left without a strategy.
She was not able to confirm whether any future announcements would impact Cochrane.
“There’s a bit of competition,” she laughed, adding that there are more than 100 housing bodies in the province and more than 1,500 seniors across the province on the wait list for long-term care beds.
The main factors to determine project precedence are age of existing facilities and capacity of housing. Sigurdson acknowledged Cochrane’s skyrocketing population.
Banff-Cochrane NDP MLA Cameron Westhead, who was not in attendance at the event, said, “I will always continue to advocate for seniors, as I have done since day one.”
He added that the Bethany site redevelopment plan was not submitted for the 2017-18 budget year and would likely need to look for funding dollars through next year’s budget.
Alasdair Smith, vice-president and chief financial officer for the Bethany Care Society, said the funding application for phase one of the site was not made for this budget due to timing.
Smith said the centre had sought information about the process to submit an application for phase one and clarity was not provided until May.
“As a result, the Bethany will submit an application in September 2017 for consideration by government for the 2018-19 year.”
One Bethany resident, Ken Hutchinson, expressed concern that the future Bethany does not include “transitional” (hospice) care – the next level of care.
“Our overall vision for the site is to create a campus of care for seniors, which will bring people together throughout the continuum of care, from affordable and life lease lodging to long-term care,” explained Smith.
He added while Bethany does offer supportive and long-term care options, future plans do not currently include plans for hospice care.
With respect to hospice care, Westhead has met with the seniors advisory council and “offered ongoing support.”
Bethany Cochrane indicated earlier this spring that hospice care is “on their radar.”
The existing Bethany facility – with 78 long-term care beds and 38 supportive living units – would be decommissioned, as the new facility phases come online – phase one with 80 affordable housing units and 40 market-rate units; phase two with 90 long-term care beds; and phase three with an additional 90 long-term beds.
The Bethany Care Society is still finalizing costs and plans and have yet to establish a construction timeline.
