For our aging community, especially those with loved ones on a long-term care waiting list, closure of a facility to new admissions is of particular concern.
At 160 beds, the new Southbridge Owen Sound represents over 37% of all long-term care resident spaces in the city.
As of April 30 (the last time the government record was updated) there were 327 people on the waiting list for Lee Manor and Summit Place.
This is viewable, along with lengthy inspection reports, on this public website
We reached out to the letter's signator and to the administration at Southbridge Owen Sound for information on when this suspension might be lifted, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
In his media release announcing Southbridge's new long-term care beds in Owen Sound, December 2022, MPP Rick Byers,said
"The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve both now and in the future. The plan is built on three pillars: staffing and care; accountability, enforcement, and transparency; and building modern, safe, comfortable homes for seniors.""
Construction for Southbridge Owen Sound began in December 2020 and the finished home now provides 91 new and 69 upgraded beds for a total of 160 safe, modern long-term care beds in Owen Sound. The home is licensed to CVH (No. 3) LP by its general partner Southbridge Care Homes.""The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve both now and in the future. The plan is built on three pillars: staffing and care; accountability, enforcement, and transparency; and building modern, safe, comfortable homes for seniors.""Construction for Southbridge Owen Sound began in December 2020 and the finished home now provides 91 new and 69 upgraded beds for a total of 160 safe, modern long-term care beds in Owen Sound. The home is licensed to CVH (No. 3) LP by its general partner Southbridge Care Homes."
After publishing this, we received this from Smithcom - Southbridge's Reputation Management company. "The current Executive Director is Brenda Lowe.Southbridge puts resident care and wellbeing first in all that we do. Our new home in Owen Sound has been opened for nine months and we are meeting community needs, moving from the care of 50 residents to the capacity to care for 160 residents. The citation concerned issues primarily related to the adoption of new technologies and the opening of a new building. We have addressed each point within the citation by the target date, which is tomorrow, October 6. We are also awaiting a Ministry inspection, which is normal protocol, so we can welcome more residents to this state-of-the art new home."
The home is nearly at full capacity, with 149 residents.
Southbridge says it has addressed each point within the citation by the target date, October 6. The next step is a Ministry inspection, which is normal protocol. There will not be advance notification of this inspection to protect its integrity.
