REGINA - The Canadian Union of Public Employees is sounding the alarm over the announcement last week of plans to close Regina Lutheran Home as a long term care facility.
The announcement was made by Eden Care Communities, who plan to move all residents out of Regina Lutheran Home by April 11, 2024 to other long term care facilities in the city. In a news release, the CUPE 5430 union has called on Saskatchewan Health Authority to take over the running of Regina Lutheran Home, but that is not happening.
“The closure of Regina Lutheran Home is yet another example of how this government is failing seniors. Their lack of planning on this file is absurd,” said Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430, in a statement.
“There is a low vacancy rate for long term care spaces in Regina. This closure will cause ripple effects throughout the Regina area. Wait lists that are already too long will grow longer, not to mention that over 100 staff will be impacted.”
The union represents 100 workers at Regina Lutheran, and the facility also houses 62 residents.
CUPE's news release is also citing Conference Board of Canada estimates that Saskatchewan will need an additional 4,648 long-term care beds by 2035 to address changing demographics. They also cite numbers of long-term care beds in Saskatchewan as having dropped from 9,240 in 2001 to 8,517 beds in 2018, and pointed to the closure of 180 beds at Regina Pioneer Village.
“We need our government to urgently invest in public long-term care. Many families can’t afford the high prices of private care homes, and COVID-19 made it clear that public care homes are safer and provide better quality of care,” Jalloh said.
“We are losing one of the most sought-after care homes in the city,” said Darlene Gilewich, first Regional Vice-President of CUPE 5430 Region 3, in a statement. She worked at Regina Lutheran Home for almost 40 years.
“Regina Lutheran Home has always been a small, family orientated community. Our staff are dedicated and make this place a wonderful home for our residents. My heart breaks for all the families that will be impacted by this short-sighted decision. Moving residents at this stage of life and changing routines is very stressful and often results in poor health outcomes.”
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