The Parkland Foundation Housing for Seniors is launching a feasibility study into how best to modernize Innisfail's half-century-old Autumn Glen Lodge, a process that could mean a new and more spacious facility for low-income seniors throughout Red Deer County.The initiative by the foundation, which manages the lodge along with self-contained suites in Bowden, Innisfail and Penhold as well as two family houses in Bowden, is considered its most important priority.Foundation officials and staff at the lodge say they have known for years the 62-room facility was inadequate for seniors' needs. They added it has become increasingly less desirable for older citizens both in town and throughout the county.ìMy husband is handicapped and there is nowhere for him to go except a private facility and we all know that is going to be expensive,î said Karen Marshall, manager at the lodge, noting that about 70 per cent of the lodge's residents are originally from the county.Currently the only other option for low income seniors in the rural municipality is the publicly funded 60-room Sylvan Lake Lodge. They can also apply to get into Olds' new Mount View Lodge but because Red Deer County is not a contributing municipality in that area, applicants would be placed at the bottom of the entry list.Autumn Glen Lodge's origins date back to 1959 when the provincial government brought in the Homes for the Aged Act.The first 32 rooms at the lodge were built in 1960. A 10-room addition was built in 1974. The lodge was expanded again in 1984 with a 20-room addition, with each unit having a full bath.However, a half-century since it first opened the facility is now deemed too small in almost every area of operations. The rooms are between 120 and 270 square feet. An Alberta Infrastructure report said the ideal size would be at least 300 square feet. The hallways are too narrow to accommodate wheelchairs. As well, there are only 20 rooms that have a bath.ìIt would be nice to be able to have a walk-in bath,î said 96-year-old lodge resident Blossom Abraham, who once lived in Red Deer County. ìThey remodelled this place once before and it wasn't any better. They spent a lot of money.îLast fall the foundation agreed to spend $99,000 for the feasibility study, which is being conducted by Edmonton's Western Health Planning. The study begins this month and is expected to be completed by June. The foundation's six partnering municipalities ñ Red Deer County, Innisfail, Penhold, Bowden, Elnora and Delburne ñ will then decide and approve the best option for Autumn Glen. The foundation will then draft a business plan.ìThey (consultants) have been directed to look at several areas ñ what can we do with the old building, can it be expanded, what are the right levels of care and examining public and private partnerships?î said Marie Flowers, the foundation's chief administrative officer. The lodge is now classified as a level 1 and 2 care facility where seniors either look after themselves or choose home care by themselves. There is no medical staff at the lodge.ìWe want to make sure it (new facility) accommodates low-income seniors,î said Flowers. ìIt (modernization) will benefit everyone. We now have empty rooms because they are so small and unappealing. They (seniors) are now going to private (lodges) or out of town or staying in their homes until they are suitable for extra care.î
