EDMONTON – Residents at Abby Road Co-op are upset over news that their home-care services will now be delivered by a for-profit company, and they’re fighting back.
The decision is part of a much bigger one. Over the past few weeks, AHS has made moves to reduce the number of home care providers in Edmonton and Calgary from 72 to 12. Only some of the companies which won contracts have been revealed; the rest will be some time this week. But so far, they’re all for-profit companies based in Ontario.
AHS says the move “is about ensuring home care clients continue to receive quality care, while at the same time ensuring taxpayers get the best value out of every health dollar spent.”
Not everyone believes that, though.
“We weren’t consulted at all, we weren’t considered, we had no say in any of this,” says Shawn McCloskey, who has lived at Abby Road Co-op for nearly ten years.
At Abby Road, disabled residents actually control the administration of their home care through a co-op board, and have done so for more than 20 years.
But a week ago, AHS told McCloskey and the other residents that home care would now be provided by Revera Living. The company also operates Riverbend Retirement, which was the site of a 70 day strike last June by workers asking for better wages and conditions.
“This is just the beginning of stories we’re going to be hearing about non-profit societies, long-standing, good quality health care – that’s being cut off at the knees,” says NDP health critic David Eggen.
AHS maintains that is not the case, and insists that services will not be cut in any way. In fact, AHS says it “has steadily increased home care in the last three years, with a 17 per cent growth in Edmonton in 2012/13.”
“Yes, some home care clients may have a new provider, however, we will work closely with clients and providers to ensure care is not compromised,” AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson told Global News in an email.
“We are in the process of awarding new home care contracts,” he added. “New contracts will help us move to a geographical service model, better align provider hourly rates and standardize services, and ensure all providers are held to the same service standards and accountabilities.
In terms of staff, home care providers are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate amount of staff in place. Most providers signing a contract will need to increase their staffing levels. This is about ensuring home care clients continue to receive quality care, while at the same time ensuring taxpayers get the best value out of every health dollar spent.”
At Abby Road, and those words are providing little assurance. Residents there are among about 4,700 of the 15,400 home care clients in the Edmonton area who will be affected by the changes.
“It just seemed like we controlled it and they just took it from us,” says McCluskey.
Because of the change in provider, Abby Road’s 25 employees were given termination notices on Friday.
The union representing them says they have been told they can re-apply for their positions, but there are no guarantees.
Global News contacted Revera for comment but a spokesperson says they are unable to provide one.
The home care changes will save $18 million for AHS, which it says will be re-invested into other areas.
With files from Vassy Kapelos, Global News
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