Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) officials have met with representatives from Alberta Health Services (AHS) regarding the future of contracts at local seniors' housing facilities.
Bruce Beattie, the chairman of MVSH and Mountain View County reeve, said the April 23 meeting went well.
“We had good discussions with them and it was a very good meeting,” Beattie told county council on April 26. “Our residents should not be affected by this and we hope to continue with that principle.
“Our main intent is to look after residents. That is our first priority and I think that we’ve agreed with AHS that that is their first priority as well.”
MVSH owns and operates seniors' housing facilities in Sundre, Olds, Didsbury and Carstairs.
Earlier this month MVSH announced that it had given AHS notice that it would be terminating AHS contracts at all its facilities in 12 months' time.
“We (MVSH) are a third-party provider on behalf of Alberta Health,” said CAO Sam Smalldon. “We are saying to Alberta Health that we wish for you to take this back. AHS can choose to have another third party or themselves, but that’s their choice.
“AHS funding has been inadequate to provide the level of quality care MVSH believes in, requiring ongoing support through municipal requisitions.
“The board has discussed and questioned involvement in delivery of health care for a number of years. The board contends health care is a provincial and AHS responsibility, not municipal taxpayers'.”
The contracts are for delivery service for all care.
"That involves a mix of labour and supplies. Basically it is a contract for what AHS would normally do. Anything related to the care that AHS wants us to do on their behalf," he said.
Alberta Health spokesperson James Wood told the Gazette: “We are committed to exploring options to preserve our contract for the benefit of residents, as well as both our organizations.”
The board is committed to ensuring seniors are not negatively impacted by termination of the contracts, said Beattie.
“We will be sitting down with them (AHS) and explaining our situation so they clearly understand why we’ve come to this decision,” said Beattie. “I think as a board we are open to discussion with them to find ways we can continue.
"We believe our model is the best one in that we provide both housing and health care in a seamless process, but believe it has to be funded adequately and we don’t believe it should be up to the municipalities to fund that.”
Asked if AHS came back with additional funding for MVSH would that change the situation, he said, “I think it is something that we would certainly consider. We’d have to see what AHS came back with and what we might be able to achieve.
“The best outcome, from my perspective, would be for Alberta Health to fund to the level that we think is appropriate and is fair. There are hurdles to be overcome.”
A followup meeting will be held in May, he said.
“We’ve agreed to have a further meeting to discuss what the options might be between AHS and MVSH in terms of the contracts,” he said. “Hopefully we will come to a good agreement that will benefit everybody.”
