The Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care has sent the proposal to replace the Jubilee Seniors Home to the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council, Alberta Health Services, and Saskatchewan Health Authority.
President Graham Brown says once the SHA greenlights the project, then more detailed work can begin. He notes they are proposing a community of care concept where a new building would be built or even more than one building.
“We could have a hospice, respite spaces, long-term care, maybe some social housing, and rehabilitation (therapy) that we really need in this community.”
Brown says they are open to the idea of several buildings to provide the various services. He sees the need for palliative and dementia care adding that is going to be a major issue going forward.
The Concerned Citizens will continue to push for more long-term care spaces, as Brown notes seniors are still being sent out of Lloydminster as there is no room.
“When seniors really need to be around family and friends, we take them away from that to move them to a different community because we have a shortage of spaces here.”
Brown adds that Lloydminster currently needs 60 more spaces, according to AHS and SHA. Also, the need will climb to 148 spaces by 2035.
“We will continue to work for the improvement of social housing, and home care. Our governments want to look after seniors in their homes longer and keep them in their homes longer, as that is the most efficient way of looking after seniors. And that’s where seniors want to be looked after – in their own homes,” says Brown. He adds those government programs need to be expanded to allow seniors to be independent in their own homes and the Concerned Citizens will be advocating for that.
The Jubilee Home proposal calls for a total of 180 spaces. It includes:
- Replacement of current 50 LTC spaces
- 20 Speciality LTC spaces
- 20 Palliative spaces
- 20 Respite spaces
- 20 Transition spaces
- 50 LTC spaces – 25 dementia
The group will be breaking for summer with the work to resume from Sep. 17 at the Legacy Centre. The Tuesday meetings are open to the community and the group is always accepting new members.
