LETHBRIDGE – The city of Lethbridge is set to see 48 new supportive living beds over the next year, with the first 12 coming in March.
Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health announced details of the new beds on Thursday. Alberta Health says over 20 local and area seniors are waiting for beds in Lethbridge.
“We are certainly meeting the needs of the community and the demand in the south zone for continuing care beds,” Covenant Health spokesperson Jim Riedlhuber said. “We have the capacity to open these beds in the very near future.”
St. Michael’s Health Centre will house the beds, which will provide supported independent living for seniors with on-site health care professionals, served meals, recreational activities and housekeeping services.
The 48 beds will be located in four self-contained “cottages” within the health centre. Each cottage will have 12 patient rooms, a common kitchen and an eating area. Riedlhuber says this week-end a job fair will take place looking for qualified staff.
“We have a health fair going on today as well as Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Michael’s Health Centre. We are looking at hiring health care aides, licenced practical nurses and support nutrition staff as well as registered nurses and housekeepers.”
The first 12 beds are scheduled to open March 21 and the second 12 in April. The remaining 24 beds are set to open early in 2017, with 12 of those specifically for residents with mental health needs.
“We want to make sure we can manage individuals that cannot be managed in the community and don’t need to be in acute care, but certainly need support from our team to manage their medical and mental health needs,” Colin Zeiber, director of Seniors Health in the south zone, said.
In an emailed statement, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman said: “Alberta seniors helped build this province, and our government believes they deserve options that help them stay in their communities, close to their family and friends. These new supportive living beds will allow more seniors in Lethbridge and area to get the care they need closer to home.”
While Covenant Health will provide the beds, Alberta Health will assign the subsidized suites to residents.
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