The Department of Health and Community Services and the four regional health authorities are acting swiftly to ensure residents of personal care homes identified for closure by the Office of the Fire Commissioner will experience as smooth a transition as possible to alternate care arrangements.

Yesterday and today, Orders of Closure were issued by the Office of the Fire Commissioner to 22 personal care homes which have not complied with a March 2003 order to install sprinkler systems, impacting approximately 290 residents. There are 121 personal care homes in the province, 99 of which are in compliance with the requirement to have sprinkler systems.

"While the closing of some personal care homes will be understandably difficult for residents, we have to remember that their personal safety and security are paramount," said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services. "My department and the four regional health authorities have identified a team which will be responsible for facilitating alternate arrangements for residents, with the staff in our regions working closely with the individual residents and their families during this transition."

The closures are scheduled for the week of March 10-14, 2008. An Order of Closure could be rescinded should homeowners provide a signed contract from a sprinkler system installer specifying a start date for installation.

"We have staff in place to work closely with each resident in determining alternate arrangements, with all efforts being made so that residents can stay in the same or a nearby community where possible," said Minister Wiseman. "We do know that there are adequate spaces in other personal care homes throughout the province to accommodate the approximate 290 residents who will potentially have to move but we acknowledge that finding alternatives in the same community will be difficult in some cases. Our team is now in the process of contacting all those who reside in the homes scheduled for closure."

In addition, should impacted residents and their family members wish to contact their regional health authority for information, the contact numbers for the different regions are noted below:

Minister Wiseman added, "I encourage all homeowners who have not yet complied with the requirement to install sprinkler systems to do so and to avail of the funding available from our department to assist with the bulk of the costs involved. Regardless, we are moving forward with our plan to ensure that every resident who is facing a move will be accommodated with as little disruption as can be possible in this situation."

In Budget 2005, the Provincial Government allocated $4 million to assist owners of personal care homes with the installation of sprinkler systems as per the 2003 Order of the Fire Commissioner. Funding was in the form of a one-time grant to cover 75 per cent of the cost to a maximum of $75,000. This funding is still available for homes which have not yet complied with the order to install sprinkler systems.

2008 02 14                                                      12:50 a.m.