Huron Expositor, 2007-03-21, Page 7The Huron Expositor • March 21, 2007 Page 7
News
Seaforth Manor, Queensway finding beds
for displaced residents of Maplewood
From Page 1
the drop of a hat, through
our Quick Response
Program. This is just a fol-
low through of that, on a
larger scale."
Potrykus said it was
unusual for 14 rooms to be
open at one time, but noted
there's always increased
availability in the winter
months.
The rooms — a mix of pri-
vate and semi -private —
were made available on a
first-come, first -serve basis.
With those empty rooms
now full or spoken for
Seaforth Manor is operating
at full capacity.
And while some of the
remaining Maplewood resi-
dents may be returning to
their former homes,
Provincial Long Term Care
Inc. has arranged shuttle
bus tours to the Queensway
retirement home in Hensall
where there are also rooms
available.
Provincial Long Term
Care Inc. is a family busi-
ness that operates five long-
term care homes and retire-
ment homes in Ontario,
including Seaforth Manor
and Queensway.
If they wish to move to the
Hensall facility on just a
temporary basis, Potrykus
said residents will•be put on
a waiting list for Seaforth
Manor.
"But for some, it's just as
convenient to be in Hensall
as it is in Seaforth," she
added.
Amy Wiggins lived at
Maplewood for three years
and said she "had a feeling
(the closure) was coming."
"There were too many
problems. Nothing was get-
ting fixed," she said.
"It was very stressful,
especially leaving the girls
that work there. When I
went to leave, there was a
line up of five ladies at the
door to hug and kiss me
goodbye."
Both Reid and Wiggins
said they felt lucky to have
gotten into Seaforth Manor
so soon.
"It's a terrible situation,"
Wiggins commented.
"I was lucky enough to
have my daughter living
right here in town, but there
are others that don't have
the support that I do."
Shocked by the turn of
events, Maplewood staff say
they will continue working
until all the residents move
out.
"We'll be there until April
1 no matter what," staff
member Kathy- McNichol
said.
"We're going to make their
last two weeks at
Maplewood as enjoyable as
possible. We wish nothing
but the best to the residents
and their families."
As of Monday, there were
still nine residents living at
Maplewood. A farewell din-
ner was held on Thursday.
All 13 staff members —
Kathy Binnendyk, Deb
Dillon, Cheryl Wilkinson,
Margaret Lee, Ruth Nolan,
Sheri Forde, Kyla Bradley,
Pam Kaufman, Kelly
McNaughton, Karen
Stephen, Karen McDonald,
Laurie McKellar and
McNichol — agreed .that
support from Seaforth-
area community has made
the difficult situation more
manageable.
"The support and con-
cern of the community has
been just out of this
world," McNichol added.
Potrykus also commend-
ed the Seaforth community
for it's response to the clo-
sure.
"Everyone has in every
aspect been supportive of
the process," she said
praising the staff of both
facilities, family members,
movers, the local
Community Care Access
Centre, Mitchell-Seaforth
Cable TV and many oth-
ers.
"With everyone's help
we're making the transi-
tion as smooth as possi-
ble."
Gord White, CEO of the
Ontario Retirement
Communities Association
(ORCA), said Maplewood
Manor terminated its
membership with the asso-
ciation in December of
2006.
"In a verbal conversa-
tion, they indicated it was
because they would be
closing. If any retirement
home tells us it will be
closing we remind them -
that they are required to
give 120 days' notice under A
the Ontario Residential
Tenancies Act," he..
explained.
"They would be breaking
the law if they didn't give
that notice."
ORCA is a voluntary, non-
profit organization estab-
lished in 1977 that sets pro-
fessional operating stan-
dards, inspects and accred-
its retirement residences in
Ontario.
"Our role is to give people
advice as to the proper steps
to take when situations like
this arise," White said.
"Most people don't know the
legislation and would accept
things point-blank, but
that's not the case in
Ontario."
Tracy Fairfield, of the
Retirement Home
Complaints Response and
Information Service toll-free
hotline (1-800-361-7254)
encouraged residents to call
with their concerns.
Fairfield said residents
should contact both the
Ontario Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and
Housing's Investigation and
Enforcement Unit at 1-888-
772-9277 and the Ontario
Landlord and Tenant Board
at 1-888-332-3234 with
their concerns.
Jim Torretto, manager of
investigation and enforce-
ment at the ministry, said
the unit received a formal
complaint regarding
Maplewood closing without
the required 120 days'
notice on March 14.
"We're currently in the
compliance stage, where we
contact the owner to let
them know what the law is.
If we don't get compliance or
hear from them in a few
days, we will then refer the
matter for investigation.
The Investigation and
Enforcement Unit responds
to complaints from land-
lords or tenants about
alleged offences under the
new Residential Tenancies
Act, 2006, which took effect
Jan. 31, 2007.
The act regulates the
rights and responsibilities of
landlords and tenants in
residential properties in
Ontario.
Formerly called the
Ontario Rental Housing
Tribunal, the Landlord and
Tenant Board provides
information about the
Residential Tenancies Act
and resolves disputes
between most residential
landlords
Call
Ma
s
nor
and
to
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m
Sabotka
returned.
tenants.
Maplewood
ager Elfreida
have yet to be
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