by Tom Sasvari
GORE BAY—While the option hasn’t been ruled out to have the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home combine with the Manitoulin Centennial Manor under one board of management, and it would only be considered if it included two separate sites, the Mayor of Gore Bay said it is not the town’s first choice or being considered.
“We haven’t ruled it out, but it is definitely not under consideration at this point. It is an option, but definitely not our first choice,” stated Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane. “First off, we are concerned about making sure the (Lodge) beds stay in Gore Bay. We would never consider moving the beds to Little Current.”
“Right now, we are looking at a non-profit structure which would not necessarily include all municipalities on Manitoulin Island, and a non-profit structure would be different than having a board of management involving all municipalities on the Island,” explained Mayor Lane.
“It depends on the management structure you have as to how you are funded.”
As was reported in last week’s edition of The Expositor, Jarlette Health Services, a private company that currently operates the Manitoulin Lodge, is in discussions with the Town of Gore Bay to transfer the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home licence to the municipality, which is looking at an ownership entity towards redevelopment and keeping the beds in town.
The town, in partnership with surrounding municipalities and others, is looking at all options for ownership and redevelopment.
Pat MacDonald, chair of the Manor board told The Expositor, “it would be financially very difficult for us to combine the Manor and the Lodge. And we couldn’t even think about any of this until we had the town of Gore Bay’s opinion.”
“I understand the town wants to keep the beds in Gore Bay and that is great, we definitely need the beds on the Island, and if Jarlette is transferring the Lodge to the town that is good,” said Ms. MacDonald. “Yes, we heard a rumour that the announcement was going to be made on the Lodge.”
“We definitely don’t want the beds moved off the Island, that would be an extremely unpopular move” stated Ms. MacDonald. “And it (combining the Lodge with the Manor) would mean a major infrastructure and costs involved. And we certainly have not talked about this as being any kind of option.”
Ms. MacDonald said both the Manor and the Lodge have long waiting lists of those wanting a bed in the facilities.
“We need to let Jarlette and the town (Gore Bay) go through the process,” said Ms. MacDonald.
Mayor Lane has been quoted as stating that together with Jarlette Health Services, “we are committed to keeping long-term care in our community for now and years to come. This can be a long process as we work together with Jarlette, our community and our partners and the Ministry of Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). We are in the very early stages of these discussions.”
Jake Roseman, issues manager and press secretary for the MOHLTC told The Expositor on behalf of the ministry, “municipal homes are not issued a licence but receive an approval for the MOHLTC. Any request to issue a new approval or licence requires the completion of a ministry licensing review process as required under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and Regulations and must be approved by the ministry. The review process would depend on how the operator is structured. There have been no approvals of a transfer from a for-profit-operated long-term care home to a municipal home.”
“There is no distinction in the ministry’s approach to funding,” said Mr. Roseman. “In the event of a license transfer, the home operating the beds would continue to have access to all applicable funding provided by the ministry.”
Both Mayor Lane and Jill Knowlton, director care for long-term care operations with Jarlette noted that Lodge resident will continue to have the same level of excellent care as they currently receive. Manitoulin Lodge will continue to need the services of a dedicated team of professionals.
“It is important that long-term care services remain within the community of Gore Bay to ensure that the residents and families continue to be well served and that the home be elevated to an even stronger position for redevelopment,” said Ms. Knowlton.
