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Seasons steps up for flooded guests (con't)
“That was a resource that was required by the community and the clients who were there really didn’t fit that kind of criteria.”
Seasons stepped up and accommodated the residents at its Amherstburg home, where it has sufficient vacancy. Lavallée said his company has had a “longstanding and very collaborative” relationship with the regional Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) which oversees nursing homes. It contracted with Banwell Gardens to take the residents until such time as the pipes in the home can be repaired, probably by late April. Another pipe burst following the original flood in February, requiring more repairs at Banwell Gardens. Also transferring to Amherstburg are some Banwell staff. Lavallée said this is the “first time” Seasons has undertaken such a role. “For us it is very much an act of being a good corporate citizen in the community and helping out where we can, and we were fortunate enough to have some vacancies where we could do that.” The residents were selected on the basis of who were most compatible because Seasons is an assisted living facility and doesn’t provide the same level of care as a nursing or long term care home. “Essentially what we’re doing is providing space and much of the service for those residents is being augmented with our staff,” Lavallée said. “For instance we’re taking care of the dietary requirements for the residents, our kitchen is doing all the cooking, our serving staff is taking care of making sure their dietary requirements are met. “But,” he said, “the employees of Banwell, such as skilled nurses, came into our building to provide services to the 43 Banwell residents.” Seasons, formed in 2009, took over former Chartwell Seniors Housing retirement homes in the area. It owns the Amherstburg complex, along with ones in Belle River and LaSalle. The Burlington-based firm has a local partner in construction arm TriAmico in Tecumseh. Ministry of Health and Long Term Care spokesman Andrew Morrison said it’s the “first time” in his memory that a private retirement home has come to the aid of nursing home residents. He said there’s a temporary emergency license in place allowing Seasons to accommodate the guests. Meanwhile, he said, “it’s our understanding that the residents are well looked after at Seasons.”
WindsorOntarioNews.com |
