‘Blindsided’
Woman troubled over prospect of husband being relocated to another nursing home
Pat Gill simply wants her husband to receive the best care possible.
She believes, at the moment, he is.
She is worried, however, this specific good care may end.
Gill’s husband Brian Gill, 73, is a resident of the dementia unit at the P.E.I. Atlantic Baptist Home in Charlottetown. Brian, who has Alzheimer’s disease, has been a resident at the home since April 2016.
He, like many others, is in jeopardy of being relocated. The home has put a halt on admitting new residents and says it may be forced to close 41 beds if the province doesn’t increase funding.
The reduction would include beds in the dementia unit. Executive director Victor Shea said last week the home will work with the province to help transfer selected patients to other facilities by Dec. 18.
Gill is troubled by the thought of her husband being moved to another facility.
She says a major change like a move would be a setback for Brian.
Also, she finds the care at Atlantic Baptist to be second to none.
“The home, to me, is excellent,’’ she says.
“The staff really, really care about these folks and you can tell when staff care…I’m very happy with the home. I wouldn’t have him anywhere else.’’
She says the pending closure of beds is “unnerving for everyone,’’ including staff, residents and family of residents. “This announcement blindsided everyone,’’ says Pat. The home is holding a family information session Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at P.E.I. Atlantic Baptist Homes and Pat will be there.
She hopes a representative from government will also be on hand. “The answers we need right now are from them (government),’’ she says.
“We need to know why? Why, why, why is this happening? It needs to be addressed.’’ With the home and the province failing to agree to a funding increase during the summer, an arbitration hearing has been set for the end of October. Shea said by the time a decision is rendered in 2018, it would be too late because the nursing home is losing too much money.
Kevin Barnes, director of health policy and programs with the Department of Health, said last week it is “quite regrettable’’ the nursing home has decided to close 41 beds. Barnes explained private nursing homes on P.E.I. receive $181.40 per resident, per day. The rate covers health costs and accommodations.
If arbitration determines a rate increase is warranted, it would apply to all the private nursing homes on P.E.I.