Cathy Dobson/The Independent

The manager of a non-profit nursing home in Sarnia says it’s outrageous Lambton County plans to spend $12.2 million to add 12 beds at Lambton Meadowview Villa in Petrolia.

Heather Martin, CEO at Vision Nursing Home for the past 37 years, says she has lost sleep over county council’s decision and is urging the politicians to reconsider building Ontario’s first Small House Project for dementia patients.

“It’s an innovative, creative idea but it’s not affordable,” said Martin.  “It’s not a good business decision. Putting this burden on the taxpayer isn’t called for.”

The project started out smaller and for a quarter of the cost but has mushroomed in size and expense over the past four years. What began as a 10-bed addition costing $3.6 million in 2020 was approved in October as a 12-bed addition costing $12.2 million.

“If it was a $6 million project, it would be okay. But in whose world do we build $1-million long term care beds?” Martin asked. 

“This is crazy.”

She has sent a letter pleading council to reconsider approval at Wednesday’s meeting in Wyoming but can’t speak to the issue without a motion that approves a reconsideration first.  That means it could be another month before she can make a personal appeal to council.

Meanwhile, the tender for construction of the project was issued Jan. 30 and closes Feb. 20, says Michael Gorgey, Lambton County’s general manager of Long Term Care.

He’s a fan of the project, calling it a unique opportunity that staff has worked very hard to make happen using a section of the existing long term care building used for offices currently.

Small house models provide a private bedroom and washroom to each resident. There is a small group a place to live, dine and socialize together and is a proven model elsewhere, said Gorgey.

“These beds are for people with complex dementia who are often denied space in long term care,” he said.  “A lot of people with behaviours that make them unsafe are given more of a home environment, less interaction with others, and they experience reduced hospitalization, lower incidents of infections, less violence, and require less anti-psychotic medications.

“The cost of construction is higher but there are real benefits to it,” he said.

Gorgey pointed to a report released three weeks ago by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) that reinforces the need for long term care to evolve away from larger wards.  The NIA report specifically calls for the urgent prioritization of small house models in the delivery of long term care services across Canada.

Gorgey is hoping council will not opt to reconsider the project on Wednesday and said $3.8 million in provincial funding could be lost if it is delayed.

He said a small house project at Lambton Meadowview Villa would be a first in Ontario and has already been proven successful in Quebec and other jurisdictions.

Martin said unaffordability is the reason no other small house projects are being built in Ontario.

Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley seconded the motion to approve the $12.2 million build in October but admitted that he shares Martin’s concerns. 

“I supported it because I want to get this thing built. There’s a real need for more long term care beds,” said Loosley, who isn’t able to attend Wednesday’s council meeting. 

He said Martin has spoken to him and others on council about her concerns since it was approved and he may be open to reconsidering the project.

“I’d be willing to see if we could get the cost down but it depends on how far along it already is,” said Loosley.

In a report going to council Wednesday, Gorgey writes that planning and design expenses for the 12 beds already total $796,832.

“Delays or cancellation of the project would risk these expenditures becoming sunk costs and could also lead to additional expenses,” says the report.

Martin said she views the small home project as “excessive” and wants county council to focus on its commitment to affordable housing and homelessness.