The group trying to get a long-term care facility in Boyle got a boost after Boyle council members unanimously voted to provide $4,000 in funding to their efforts.
Doris Splane, chairperson of the Boyle Campus of Continuous Care Committee, made her case on July 20, asking council to provide 40 percent of the $10,000 required to do a feasibility study.
“We often see our senior couples separated from their familiar surroundings and each other for their end care at a time when they need each other more than ever,” Splane said to council. “Often we see a sudden decline in the health of these people due to loneliness and confusion in the new and different settings.”
She explained that the village and surrounding area’s aging population will continue to strain resources currently available. Currently, seniors are cared for at the hospital or senior lodging in the community.
“We foresee a real need for the type of facility we are pursuing,” she said, adding that long-term care beds are substantially cheaper for the province than hospital beds.
The long-term care facility would allow seniors to be independent for as long as possible, with the extra safety net of staff on hand for potential accidents. Residents would gradually receive more and more support, Splane said.
That would allow people “age in place,” maintaining strong connections with family and friends.
The facility would also provide for non-seniors, giving respite to caregivers of people with disabilities, she said.
The committee has also been in talks with the president of Portage College (hence the “campus” in their name) which would see health care graduates work at the facility for their required practicum.
Council thanked Splane for the presentation, and discussed the matter later on in the meeting.
Councillor Mike Antal said he was surprised at how well the committee had done with the little money they had.
Since their establishment in November of 2010, the committee has operated on a shoestring budget of individual donations, driven by a passionate core of people.
“[The funding] is important, but it’s tough because it hasn’t been budgeted,” Antal said.
He added that if they reject the funding, it might also set the stage for similar rejections from the other municipalities the group is seeking funding from.
“Let’s give them a bit of steam,” he said.
Council unanimously passed the motion to provide the $4,000 to the committee.
Splane was excited to hear the good news.
”It’s exciting, it’s just really encouraging,” she said.
The committee will seek to complete their $10,000 goal with donations from the county, as well as the summer villages of Bondiss and Mewatha.
If they meet their goal, they would contract out a company to do the feasibility study, which would give them a better idea of the number of seniors in the area and their potential health care needs in years to come.
A successful feasibility study would also give them a better case to make at the provincial funding level. The group has already received words of encouragement from Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau as well as Alberta Health Services leaders, although no formal agreements have been made.
“The feasibility study is the crux of the road,” Splane said. “It will certainly give us the ammo to move forward.”
“There’s a lot of hurdles to go over yet, but you’ve got to start somewhere,” she added.
