Food, staff issues mean uncertain future for 4 residential care homes
City staff meeting with residents in central Hamilton care homes to discuss 'options'
It's been less than a month since city licencing staff agreed that four residential care homes in central Hamilton could stay open as long as the new operator got things up to snuff.
But on Wednesday, with ongoing concerns about conditions in the homes, the city began two days of meetings between a public health nurse and housing case manager with residents in the homes to discuss "options".
The operation of the homes continues to cause the city serious concern.- City letter to residents
This week, city staff cited concerns like a "lack of food supplies and a lack of adequately trained staff", as well as a lengthier period than they'd expected for getting the licencing paperwork together for the new operator.
"The operation of the homes continues to cause the city serious concern," the city wrote in a letter to residents circulated on Tuesday.
Not licenced
A handful of residents of Balsam Lodge and Burris Lodge began the process of moving to other facilities, according to Dee Bisson, who works privately as a support worker for one of the residents of Burris Lodge and used to work for the lodge owner.
The city was trying to revoke the licences for the lodges for a series of violations of city bylaws last month, but agreed to let the homes stay open with new operators, as long as they'd get their licence applications in. That means the homes as of now are not licensed, the city said.
The process of communicating any sort of change or concern to 40-some vulnerable residents with a range of mental health or mobility disabilities, spread across four homes, is challenging, complicated and sometimes confusing for family members and the public who are concerned for their wellbeing.
'Completely up to them'
The city told CBC Hamilton that "no one is being moved out" on Wednesday, but that the city staff would help anyone find a new place who wanted to move.
"We're not saying they have to leave," said city spokeswoman Ann Lamanes. "It's completely up to them."
The city said it sent the new operator, Supportive Living, a letter last Thursday requesting all of the outstanding paperwork and fees be submitted, and highlighting their concerns, and had not heard back as of early Wednesday afternoon.
The homes' owner, Andrew James of Bellbrook Meadows, is several months overdue on utilities bills. The city told CBC Hamilton on Wednesday that staff have talked with Horizon Utilities and have been assured that the utilities would not be shut off to leave the residents in the lurch.
Supportive Living also said James has told them he's bringing the bills current, according to an email to CBC Hamilton from Vishal Chityal of Supportive Living.
Fridge checked 'a day before the scheduled food was to arrive'
Supportive Living also said that the food issues were because "the city's inspection was made a day before the scheduled food was to arrive." (James used the same explanation in May when city licencing staff cited issues with food supply.)
Chityal said newer staff are also scheduled for a medication course on Thursday that hasn't been completed yet – "another timing issue," he said.
Supportive Living, a Niagara-based care facility company, has been managing the lodges after hearing about issues there for the past couple of months.
That company had filed applications to be the licence-holder for the lodges going forward, Chityal said in May, but said on Wednesday that there was a new buyer interested in the properties and the new operators were planning to talk with city staff by the end of the week.
City staff met with residents at Balsam and Burris lodges on Wednesday, and plan to meet with residents at Anka and St. Francis lodges on Thursday.