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Pa ge 3 6 T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 5, 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a Mountainview Residence This 81 suite Retirement Residence offers home-cooked meals, daily housekeeping, laundry services, nursing staff and planned social activities. For more information or to enjoy a personal tour - simply call 905-877-1800. www.mountainviewterrace.ca www.mountainviewresidence.ca Mountainview Terrace Owned & operated by the Summer family Situated on a beautifully landscaped 5.6 acre property at 222 Mountainview Rd. N., Georgetown 60 apartment style suites for cognitive self-sufficient seniors. Included in monthly fee: Weekly housekeeping, lunch & dinner, activities. Please call for a tour 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Accredited by: R.R. 2, Guelph 519-856-4622 www.edenhousecarehome.ca Creating confident smiles since 1982. 18 Church Street, Georgetown (Across from the Library and Cultural Centre) (905) 877-2359 www.georgetowndentureclinic.ca Alexander Trenton DD, F.C.A.D. (A) Denturist 130 Mill Street East, Acton Full & Partial Dentures Implant Retained Dentures Precision Dentures (BPS® Certified) Same Day Service for Repairs & Relines Dental Lab On Site No Referrals Needed 519-853-0079 Specializing in Alzheimer's Clientele "ToTally Secured environmenT" Fox Run is a country estate located on four scenic acres overlooking the Caledon Hills, and close to the quaint village of Erin, Ontario. Fox Run caters exclusively to individuals in early to mid states of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. We offer a non-institutional alternative for those who can no longer live alone and need around the clock attention. Contact Patricia Kelly (Owner/Administrator) at 519-833-1033 RR2, Erin, Ontario A Home A way From Hom e SENIORS LIFESTYLES published each month To advertise here please contact Kelli 905-873-0301 ext 237 kkosonic@theifp.ca SENIORS LIVING Halton Region will undertake a review of its owned and operated long-term care facilities to see whether it's time to sell them or continue to operate them. Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison initially wanted Halton to ask the Province for permission to test the market for such a sale. But with no support from oth- er budget committee members, Dennison decided to support the review route, urged by Oakville Councillor Tom Adams, which passed unanimously during a meeting last month. Dennison has been advocating selling Halton's three municipally- operated facilities for several years, but his idea has always been re- jected. He insisted such a sale would save the Region $17 million annu- ally by divesting itself from Allen- dale in Milton, Post Inn Village in Oakville and Creek Way Village in Burlington. In making his pitch for selling, Dennison said, "If it's found in the Yellow Pages we shouldn't be in- volved in it." Sheldon Wolfson, Halton's social services and community commissioner, said the Region is provincially mandated to operate at least one long-term care facility. In deciding whether to sell or retain, municipalities had to con- sider several ramifications such a community and labour relations, and various cost issues, Wolfson said. There is also a risk of losing beds. "Licenced beds (in private nursing homes) have a value. They can be bought and sold," Wolfson said. "Municipally-approved beds cannot be bought and sold." However, several councillors agreed that Dennison made a compelling financial argument in that, by selling the three facilities, Halton would not only reap a fi- nancial benefit, but it would also result in the private sector paying property taxes for the homes. However they wanted staff to ensure his figures were accurate and what the long-term effects would be on Halton residents should they eventually decide to sell all three or just one of their homes or keep the status quo. Halton currently has 2,736 long-term care beds of which 21 per cent are operated by the Re- gion, Dennison said. A sale of the three municipally- owned homes would result in a cash infusion of about $125 mil- lion, and reduce annual operating costs by more than $17 million, ac- cording to Dennison. He argued such a sale would increase the Region's taxable as- sessment, providing about $2.5 million in property tax revenue. "We also have $20 million in our reserves for repairs and renewal of these facilities so this could poten- tially free up close to $150 million," Dennison said. Budget committee members were told municipally-operated homes have higher operating costs than privately-operate homes pri- marily because of higher wages and past arbitration awards. Because residents don't neces- sarily get to choose the home they want to live in unless they can wait for an opening, Dennison said it makes no sense for taxpayers to continually foot the bill for homes that can be served by the private sector. "They (privately-operated homes) are income-producing as- sets," Dennison said. Dennison suggested it made more sense for the Region to use the money from a sale, its reserves and the annual costs for operat- ing the homes and use it for social housing and homeless issues, ar- eas the Region is required to fund. Wolfson said the Region cur- rently operates 200 beds less than it needs and the need will become greater in the future. It's projected Halton will need 400 more beds by the Year 2021. Halton Region to study sale of its long-term care homes By Bob Mitchell Special to The IFP Halton will need 400 more long-term care beds by 2021 - Sheldon Wolfson, Halton Social Services and Community Commissioner