Westwinds Communities is calling on the provincial government to improve seniors housing programs.

In a recent blog post, titled Government Pays Less Than Its Fair Share, the organization outlines issues with Alberta’s Seniors Lodge Program and Lodge Assistance Grant.

They’re calling for an in-depth review of the Seniors Lodge Program due to funding shortfalls that have led to costs being downloaded onto seniors and taxpayers.

The post explains that it was last reviewed in 2015, with none of the recommendations at the time having been implemented.

According to Westwinds’ CAO Lauren Ingalls, the program’s funding model has quickly become antiquated.

“One of the biggest disparities we see is that the funding is not tied to inflation. In the case of the Lodge Program, since 2018, we haven’t had any operational funding increase. Unfortunately, that means any cost pressure we experience in contract renewals, food service costs, utilities, as we know, carbon tax is quite significant and inflation in general, is passed along not only to seniors but to our municipalities, so to the taxpayers all throughout Foothills County, including the municipalities that like within the county’s jurisdiction.”

Westwinds' rents were raised $50 a month this year, with an anticipated $100 increase in 2024 to make up for funding shortfalls.

She says while cost relief for other sectors such as the Continuing Care sector is welcome, Housing Management bodies have been left with little to work with.

“While there are some cost relief measures, they’re very restrictive. For example, if seniors have COVID, they have to be restricted to their suites. The province will pay for additional staffing, but they won’t pay for things like convenience packaging to make sure they get their meals hot because they’re not able to come out to the dining room.”

With no changes to the program in sight, Ingalls says organizations like Westwinds aren’t able to deliver the quality of service they’re capable providing.

“Of course, when you restrict your budgets, the first thing you start doing is delaying very important capital improvements, and that’s what we’ve been experiencing particularly in 2023 where we’ve had only capital budget for emergency replacements, so there’s been no budgeted capital. We have no projections from the province if they’re going to put any adjustments through for the Lodge Assistance Grant in addition to reviewing how it is funded.”

They’re calling for a review of the program and grant funding tied to it.

‘The Seniors Lodge Program in Alberta faces significant challenges, from the sustained grip of inflation to the lack of capital funding and the stagnant Lodge Assistance Grant. A comprehensive review is still required to address these issues and ensure that seniors in the province receive the care and support they deserve,” reads the post.

The full blog post can be seen here.
 

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