Changes over just who will provide health and hospitality services to elderly residents of a soon-to-be completed assisted living building have created concern for residents and family members anticipating an Oct. 26 move-in date.
The Squamish Renaissance assisted living retirement residence on Third Avenue offers 75 assisted living units - 20 of them subsidized by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) - in a 60,000-sq. ft., four storey, wood frame building.
One elderly woman and her daughter got a shock this week when they were told the woman couldn't move in because her unit is subsidized. However, they were told, private-paid residents can occupy their units by the end of October.
The woman's daughter, who requested anonymity to protect her mother's privacy, said the uncertainty over when her mother can move in has caused both significant stress.
Her mother fell earlier this summer, badly injuring her shoulder, and can no longer care for herself or make her own meals.
"I work all day, I can't be there to make her meals," said the daughter.
The family had made arrangements for the elderly woman's care until the Renaissance occupancy date. Now those plans are "up in the air," said her daughter, and no one seems to be able to explain why.
"Everybody seems to be pointing to everybody else," she said. "There are 20 [subsidized] units, and there are families trying to make their plans, and they've changed several times, and now everything's up in the air."
The residents' main contact, rental co-ordinator Linda Love, said she was unaware of any problems with the October occupancy date. But Renaissance Hospitality and Health Services representative Martin Gardner said the confusion is due to InSite Housing, Hospitality & Health Services deciding to step away from the project, causing "last minute" changes that would see Renaissance itself provide the caretaking service.
"This company has historically partnered with some of the big providers like InSite in the past, but have chosen to provide this one themselves due to InSite and Renaissance parting ways," said Gardner. "I understand how important it is to these 20 families that their loved ones move in a the end of October, and that's the plan at this time."
Before this can happen, the Office of Assisted Living Licensing Registrar must approve them for the work, said Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) spokesperson Anna Marie D'Angelo.
"When [the licensing] is in place, and the facility meets our standards, then our residents can move it, no problem," she said, adding that she was confused over why the occupancy date would be different for subsidized or non-subsidized units.
"We are only advocating for our residents, so I'm not sure what the private-paid people are doing. I would think that they wouldn't be able to move in either if it's not properly licenced."
D'Angelo said she was unsure over the timing for licensing, but the process can be "sped up" if the facility and service providers were up to standard. Calls to the Office of Assisted Living Licensing Registrar were not returned.
Gardner said Renaissance is a subsidiary of New Futures Building Group, which has lots of experience providing care in several assisted living buildings. He said he's confident licensing will be in place, allowing all residents to move in by the end of October, but subsidized residents may be getting a different story from VCH authorities who "don't want to commit to anything" until the process is complete.
"It's unfortunate that some individuals in the community are maybe saying things that are getting ahead of themselves," he said. "I think we all need to trust the process. I'd much rather see VCH go through this process than to qualify any provider."
He said that despite some setbacks, he anticipates that once the building is staffed and operational, and open houses are organized, "It's going to be successful."
"It's just unfortunate that we've had to deal with what we've dealt with over the last year in delaying it with the construction, the labour market and some of the municipality red tape that was thrown into the builder's way."
