WATCH ABOVE: Plans to expand the Maxwell Seniors Residence in Baie d’Urfé have fallen through, much to the dismay of its residents. Global’s Gloria Henriquez reports.
BAIE D’URFE — Ed Taylor loves living in Baie-D’Urfé’s Maxwell senior’s residence and he hopes to spend his golden years in town.
“I like the area,” said Taylor.
That future is now in doubt as plans to build a new assisted living facility across the street from his home on Baie-D’Urfé’s Surrey street have fallen through.
“I’m very disappointed,” Taylor told Global News. “I thought that perhaps in the day I might take advantage of it.”
The town of Baie-D’Urfé responded to a call for proposals to build a three-storey senior’s home for residents who need advanced or assisted care back in March, 2015.
READ MORE: Baie-D’Urfé accepting proposals to build new senior’s home
Maxwell applied for funding at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation but the residence’s general manager, Farzad Shodjai, says the government did not approve the funding for the project.
“They looked at the project and did not share our enthusiasm,” said Shodjai. “They believe there’s not enough demand.”
But back in March, the city of Baie-D’Urfé was clear about the community’s need.
Nathalie Hadida, Baid-D’Urfé town manager told Global News there is a growing need for a senior’s home in the community.
Almost 21 per cent of the town’s residents are 65 or older and some of them need more help as they age.
Some community groups like the Seniors Advocacy Project of the West Island say they’d like to see more publicly funded seniors homes.
“Right now we have seniors that are sent to private residences while they’re waiting for public housing,” said Hélène McGregor, the project’s coordinator.
READ MORE: Red tape means century-old woman travels 35 minutes for medical care
The government thinks that once the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue veteran’s hospital is run by the province, there will be enough care for West Island seniors.
The veteran’s hospital is currently run by the Federal government. Québec’s Health Minister Gaétan Barrette has signed the transfer into the province’s hands. Keys are expected to be handed over early in 2016. But it’s not bound to be a smooth transfer.
READ MORE: Empty hospital beds possible side effect of change in guard
Hospital workers are still in the dark about the institution’s direction under the provincial government.
“We are worried,” said Marie-Françoise Bouchereau, a union representative,” about the quality of care, not knowing what services they’re going to keep.”
“We could not answer to that, it’s a big question mark.”
For seniors like Taylor, those questions could mean moving away from the community he loves, so he can be closer to the services he needs.
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