A St. Albert retirement home is grateful to the government for committing additional funding to enhanced safety measures related to fighting COVID-19.
“Our front lines have demonstrated heroic dedication to the safety and well-being of our residents in these extraordinary circumstances and have worked tirelessly. This funding recognizes their efforts,” said Sharon Ranalli, vice-president of marketing and communications for Chartwell Retirement Residences, in an emailed statement. Chartwell's St. Albert location has been battling an outbreak that has claimed 14 lives so far and infected more than 100 residents and staff members. Just two active cases remained at that facility as of Tuesday.
On Feb. 3, Premier Jason Kenney announced the province would be providing $68.5 million in funding to continuing care facilities, home care, and residential addiction and mental health treatment centres to help pay for increased staffing, cleaning supplies and PPE. He said the money comes in addition to $260 million the government has already invested.
“This will be provided to operators across the province to help protect Albertans and staff who work in continuing care, providing services as well as residential and mental health treatment facilities,” said Kenney during a press conference.
Organizations that have been operating during the pandemic, from March 15, 2020, to March 31, 2021, are eligible for the additional funds.
Ranalli doesn’t have specific details on how much the Chartwell St. Albert Retirement Residence will receive, but expects those details to come, pending the application process.
Funding amounts will vary by sector and will be calculated based on the number of spaces in each facility – or, with regard to home care, on an hourly basis.
Non-contracted licensed supportive living has been allotted $48 million. The money will go to around 500 facilities that have about 20,000 units combined.
“Those non-contracted facilities are not the ones funded by the Government of Alberta, but they have had to bear significant costs,” said Kenney.
Home care is to receive $9.6 million to help pay for additional cleaning supplies and staffing.
“Home care services remain vital during this time as Albertans continue to require health and personal care services to support them in order to be able to remain at home in their community,” said Kenney.
Residential community hospice will receive $1 million to help cover costs associated with PPE cleaning and additional staff.
Residential addiction and mental health facilities will receive $9.9 million. Health Minister Tyler Shandro said these facilities have faced reduced occupancy due to physical distancing requirements, and $4.6 million of the $9.9 million will go to cover unused beds. The rest of the money will go toward increased costs associated with the pandemic.
Kenney acknowledged there has been an increase in mental health issues and high rates of opioid overdose deaths during the pandemic.
“It's critical that these services continue to be available to Albertans who need them ... this additional funding will help them continue this important work in the weeks and months ahead to provide those treatment and mental health services in a way that is COVID safe,” said Kenney.
Back in June, the province extended supports made available last spring to long-term care, designated supportive living facilities and seniors’ lodges. The province also topped up the wage of health care aides working at contracting continuing care facilities by $2 an hour. So far, the province has spent $87.6 million to top up health care aides’ wages and to provide paid practicum opportunities for students in an effort to fast-track certification for those students.
COVID-19 has hit seniors the hardest in this province. A quarter of the people hospitalized with the virus are over 80, said Kenney, and the average age of people passing away from the virus is 82. Nearly two thirds of those deaths have been from people living in long-term care and supportive homes.
“The greatest (tragedy) of COVID-19 has been the devastating impact it's had on many seniors, especially those living in nursing homes or continuing care, long-term care facilities – that has been true both here in Alberta (and) across Canada,” said Kenney.
