To the Editor,
Re: Nearly 180 health-care workers facing layoffs, Jan. 5.
Here we go again, disrupting the lives of our seniors.
I blame Bill 29 for this.
Sharon Henderson, spokeswoman for Chartwell Seniors’ Housing REIT, says there will be no disruptions to residents. Bonnie Pearson Hospital Employees’ Union representative says differently. As does Leonard Krog, Nanaimo NDP MLA.
I worked in a long-term care facility as it was called then, as a nursing assistant and know there are many residents who do not have family and no one comes to see them, so they develop friendships with the staff.
Some come from other areas of the country to be close to family and going to a facility, if they haven’t been in one before is very stressful.
If they lived alone they aren’t used to so many people being around them, and often find routines difficult to adjust to.
Chartwell says the decision to lay off staff was difficult and will ensure Malaspina Gardens is “a viable candidate for redevelopment in conjunction with Vancouver Island Health Authority”.
Valerie Wilson of VIHA denies this.
So what does “redevelopment” mean?
My mother-in-law lived at Malaspina Gardens after she had a stroke and my husband and I can’t say enough about the excellent care she received right up until she passed away.
They are wonderful, compassionate people and I wish them all the best in the future.
Theresa Kowall
Ladysmith