The Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) board is expected to discuss a grant application this week that, if successful, could see a 100-bed seniors housing facility constructed in Sundre, say officials.The provincial Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) provides grants for the construction of six facilities of different sizes province wide. Sundre and area is one of the locations up for the 2011 grant.The MVSH board is scheduled to discuss a possible Sundre grant application on Oct. 20 and 27. The deadline to apply for the grant is Nov. 4.The Town of Sundre has formed a seniors housing committee to examine Sundre-area seniors housing needs. The committee has already identified the need for more seniors care in the Sundre area, including assisted living and long-term care.Committee members met with said Sam Smalldon, MVSH chief operating officer, last week discuss a possible ASLI grant application.ìThe Sundre committee is considering the need for having an application by a provider,î said Smalldon. ìThe committee itself cannot do that, so we are basically assisting in finding a provider for Sundre, as opposed to being the applicant.îUnder the ASLI program, the provincial government is providing $67 million for a total of 600 new living spaces. The specific amount of each of the six grants will be determined later.ìThey have different ways of deciding what they give, but usually it is a percentage of total capital,î Smalldon said, noting a 100-bed Sundre facility would be for seniors who need care, as opposed to those in independent living.ìIn supportive living and long term care there is a care component for each of the units. Supportive living is everything above home care, and we provide minimal levels above home care,î he said.The Sundre Hospital currently has 15 long-term care beds.ìThis would expand the units available to be able to have people stay in Sundre, as opposed to being moved Red Deer or Rocky or Calgary or Airdrie or other places,î said Smalldon.ìFor instance, once Bethany gets to Didsbury that could be a location where people could move to. This is about bringing (supportive and long-term care) to Sundre so people could stay in the area. Sundre would be another good geographical location.îThe Sundre committee has also identified the need for other seniors housing facilities for those who do not need care.ìWe believe there are other needs in the Sundre area for independent options for housing. That's a separate issue,î he said.Sundre Mayor Annette Clews says she believes Sundre and area could use the new facility.ìWe are in the early stages and I'm glad the committee is working with Mountain View Seniors' Housing on this,î said Clews.
