Press release from Alberta Health Services, dated June 6, 2011.

Three operators chosen to provide 70 additional continuing care beds

MEDICINE HAT — Alberta Health Services (AHS) has selected the three operators for 70 additional continuing care beds and 10 hospice beds here, following an extensive review of proposals and contract negotiations.

Fifty additional supportive living beds will be located at the Wellington Retirement Residences (owned by Park Place Developments) and managed by Connecting Care. The Wellington has been operated as an independent living seniors housing facility with the potential of AHS supported on-site scheduled home care for residents.

The Good Samaritan Society at South Ridge Village will convert and operate a 10-bed private cottage to provide supportive living for patients with dementia. The dementia cottages are duplexes and offer a home-like setting on each side for up to 10 dementia clients.

The setting is homelike with bedrooms, living room with fireplace, kitchen and secure access to the fenced yard. Clients are included in the events of daily living to the extent that they are accustomed and able.

In March, AHS announced Covenant Health as the preferred operator for a 10-bed community-based hospice and 10-bed flexible use / short stay Community Support Bed program at St. Joseph’s Home.

Supportive living creates a home-like setting for seniors and adults with disabilities. Publicly funded personal care and health services are provided to supportive living residents based on their needs. Professional nursing care is provided by 24-hour, onsite licensed practical nurses, supported by registered nurses, through the Home Care program.

Health care aides attend to personal care needs, while the on-site licensed practical nurse and Home Care registered nurses develop the care plan and provide professional support.

Home Care in Medicine Hat will add additional registered nurses to case-manage the extra beds and to provide 24-hour, on-call service for community clients.

Some of the new contracted supportive living beds will be able to accept clients in late June and early July. Work on the hospice / community support beds at St. Joseph’s is actively underway with opening anticipated in the fall.

Currently, Medicine Hat has 464 continuing care beds (including 86 supportive living beds). When the new beds open, there will be 534 continuing care beds (with 378 long-term care and 156 supportive living beds).

This expansion of service supports the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by Alberta Health and Wellness and AHS, which outlines a commitment to provide more options for continuing care, including the addition of 5,300 spaces provincewide by March 2015.

Following the Request for Proposals issued in mid-November, AHS conducted a rigorous review process with physicians, rehabilitation professionals, administration and strategic planning specialists from Medicine Hat, the South Zone of AHS, and other parts of the province.

The review looked at criteria such as the proponent’s proposed staffing models, understanding of the population being served, services needed and the ability to sustain operations over a long period of time. Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta.

Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.