| May 15, 2013


Twenty-seven years ago, Dr. Peter Bell opened the Sharbot Lake Seniors Home in order to provide a residential setting for local seniors who required the level of support that only a seniors’ residence could provide.

“There were people then, as there are now, who reach a point in their lives where they need 24-hour care. Homecare services can’t manage people for 24 hours. It might be ok if there is enough family support, but there were people then as there are now who require a residential setting,” recalled Peter Bell earlier this week.

“We had lobbied for years for a public facility here in Sharbot Lake, and the best we could do was to convince the provincial government to build a seniors’ apartment. But even that fell through in the end. That’s when I decided to open the seniors’ home.

The Sharbot Lake Seniors Home can accommodate up to 35 residents, and provides room, board, and 24-hour support.

From the start, according to Peter Bell, the home has never been profitable, but he took the view that at some point the governments would realise that with the only alternative to privately run seniors’ homes being long-term care facilities, which are both full and hugely expensive to operate, a funding model to provide support for patients in small facilities would eventually be forthcoming.

"In long-term care facilities such as Fairmount Home, the cost of care is covered and residents pay for their board, and if they can’t afford that there are subsidies available. I have always thought the province would eventually see the advantage of providing some support for residents of homes like ours in Sharbot Lake. But after 27 years, I can’t wait any longer, and I’ve run out of time and resources,” he said.

Bell informed the staff and residents of the home on May 1 that the home will be closing as soon as all of the residents are placed in new locations, and by July 31 at the latest.

Although the closure of the home coincides with new licensing regulations, Bell said that having to follow the regulations, which he supports, was not a major factor in his decision to close it. The home has a sprinkler system in place and a number of other requirements have been met over the years.

“It’s very unfortunate to see that facility empty and for the staff to lose their jobs and the residents to have to move out of their own community,” said Bell.

He said he has no plans for the building once it is empty.

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