Central Park Manor to close

Central Park Manor to close
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published Feb. 23, 2003

The Fraser Health Authority has announced plans to close the 97- bed Central Park Manor seniors' care facility in west Burnaby as part of its long-term plan to modernize continuing care facilities in the region.
"I am writing to advise you that Central Park Manor's history as a publicly funded care facility will be coming to an end in slightly more than 12 months' time," FHA residential care services chief operating officer Betty Ann Busse said in a letter delivered Thursday to residents and staff of the facility.
The 33-year-old facility is being closed under terms of a Ministry of Health policy approved last spring and ratified by the health authority in the fall, said Colleen Hart, FHA director of residential partnerships.
More bed closures are expected to be announced later this year, she added.
"What has been said for the year 2003 is that we will be closing a minimum of 210 beds within this fiscal year in the Fraser North subregion," Hart said. "The beds are obsolete."
Hart said that each of the 89 residents living at Central Park Manor should be able to find new accommodations at care homes in Burnaby, which recently saw new beds opened at the Dania Home and Nikkei Place.
The closure comes as a result of a decision to ensure that only those seniors who require "complex care" will be admitted into care homes, Hart said.
The closure, which was not completely unexpected, was still a surprise for many people at the care home.
"We're sad about it, but we also understand why it's being done," said Pat May, executive director of the home. "Our facility is old and needs a lot of expensive renovations to meet the needs of people now being admitted. That's one of the reasons, really the major reason, why we're being closed."
May said a nurse has already begun meeting with residents and their families to ensure the transition process is a smooth one. "The authority has committed to giving individual attention to each resident to find the most appropriate facility to meet their needs," she said.
The property, which is owned by the Foursquare Madge Meadwell Foundation, has been for sale for the past year.
But while health officials seem to agree that the decision to close the facility is grounded on solid planning principles, at least one neighbour to Central Park Manor is not convinced by the arguments.
"I'm 74 years old and I'm a bit concerned that these facilities are being shut down," said Joyce Burke, who frequently visits friends who live in the care home across the street from her residence.
"I know they have long waiting lists of people wanting to get into these places, so I just feel that it's another indication of where seniors are being neglected," Burke said.
When told that the beds no longer meet the ministry of health requirements, Burke said: "That's their opinion. I think they were just looking for an excuse to close it. I think they just don't want to pay for the staff. That's my opinion."
But Hart insisted that other alternatives are in place. She said the health authority recently issued a request for proposals for private contractors to build another 200 unit senior care facility in the region, and the FHA is obligated to open another 1,100 assisted living units by the year 2006.
"Where it's appropriate, people will have assisted living or more home support," Hart said. "Part of this redesign is having more options and saving residential care for when it's really needed.
"And there are enough beds in Burnaby."
The closure announcement was posted on the FHA Web site just four hours after Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota issued a press release applauding the provincial government for recent consultations with long-term care providers.
In the press release, Sahota said that changes such as more flexibility in how facilities operate are encouraging to operators.
"They are encouraging us to do more," Sahota said. "They have asked for more input in the planning process that affects how well they can deliver services to seniors. They asked us to work toward providing more options for assisted living that allow greater independence while ensuring that the level of care remains the same."