Province offers $170M to seniors’ care facilities as part of relaunch strategy
By Medicine Hat News on May 21, 2020.
Long-term care facilities, seniors’ lodges and designated supportive facilities across Alberta will be receiving a boost from the provincial government as it rolls out its COVID-19 relaunch strategy. The Minister of Health’s office announced Tuesday it has earmarked $170 million to assist those most vulnerable to COVID-19. The funding will be used for extra cleaning supplies and enhanced staffing while addressing lost accommodation revenue, according to a press release. “We know from our experience over the past few months that seniors are most at risk from COVID-19,” Minister of Health Tyler Shandro states in the release. “If our province is to carefully and gradually lift public health restrictions, we must first make sure our most vulnerable will remain safe. This funding is another step in that direction and complements ongoing efforts.” The release goes on to state that $14.2 million will be allocated each month, and distributed in co-ordination with Alberta Health Services, and Seniors and Housing. Funding is retroactive to March 15 and will continue until orders from Alberta’s chief officer of health are lifted. Organizations will be required to report on the use of the funds and return any money not spent on purposes related to COVID-19. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees released a statement shortly after the announcement, calling for suspension of profits and executive bonuses at continuous care facilities in response to the funding. “During the announcement, Health Minister Tyler Shandro acknowledged more than 70 per cent of Alberta’s COVID-19 deaths have been in continuing care,” AUPE vice president Kevin Barry said in the release. “What he left out was that a disproportionate majority of those deaths and outbreaks have occurred in for-profit centres. Providing this money while still allowing multi-million dollar corporations like Revera and Chartwell to run a profit is rewarding them for their failures.” 8-7
