Dear Editor:
Last week I presented a letter to the paper and to the district.
My intent was to inform our neighbours of answers to their questions.
During the past few months the same questions and concerns have been presented to the two forums (district web, public letters to the editor.)
The district staff will be gathering their information and soon Summerland councillors will have answers to share with everyone. Please have patience.
My purpose in writing is to provide some clarity and answers to a few of the concerns that have been raised.
• Question: Affordable Housing?
Yes, iCasa will be affordable living for our seniors. iCasa Living Resort is solely designed as a private pay model. This means Building A and B (units for sale) will be at fair market pricing and building C and D (Independent/Assisted and Memory Care) will also be at fair market rental pricing.
• Question: Does Seniors Village have 25 empty beds?
I thank the writer for bringing this comment forward again.
There are empty beds in the complex care side of their community. These beds have been vacant for a few years.
However, as per the Administration at Summerland Seniors Village, “Funded Assisted Living and Complex Care beds are fully occupied with wait lists”.
• Staffing issues at the Resort? We have many programs and processes in the works.
Our managing partner Saint Elizabeth has many educational programs and tools and are ready to assist.
There are many established health care and other training schools in the area.
Okanagan College is an example of a group we would be honoured to partner or assist. We have other unique and planned recruiting processes in place.
• Will there be sufficient doctors?
The residents that live at iCasa living resort and those who live in Summerland and area will have Saint Elizabeth’s full nursing continuum at their disposal.
This means more assistance, not less.
Residents of Summerland and iCasa living resort will have more availability to care products.
A writer in last week’s Summerland Review stated, “Interior Health stated 93 per cent of care homes were understaffed etc.” I believe the writer mistook Interior Health for HEU (Hospital Employees Union), confirmed by Interior Health.
I hope the community finds these answers helpful.
Gary Tamblyn
CEO/owner
New Essence Healthcare
Management Services Ltd.
Kelowna
