Alberta Health Services and Seasons Encore have temporarily increased the number of designated supportive living beds in Olds as part of efforts to address capacity pressures in acute care facilities.
Nine spaces will remain operational for a 12-month period to help maintain acute care capacity at sites throughout Alberta Health Services (AHS) Central Zone.
The new designated supportive living beds were added at Seasons Encore on March 1 to support patients who no longer need acute care services and can be transitioned to more appropriate sites of care. Those waiting in community settings, such as a home or lodge, who require a higher level of care may also be placed into these temporary spaces.
“Having additional capacity added in Olds will be a big benefit to the residents of Mountain View County, allowing patients to remain as close to home as possible,” said Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper in a statement.
“This additional capacity will help ensure the right services and supports are in place to best meet the needs of those we serve,” added Lori Sparrow, senior operating officer Community and Seniors Health, AHS Central Zone.
Residents in the temporary spaces will be relocated to alternative continuing care spaces prior to the end of the 12-month contract period so the temporary spaces can be decommissioned.
Related:
Red Deerians gather to share concerns about health care system and ways to fix it
AHS said patients and their families will be supported in moving to these temporary spaces where they will receive the same level of care and support as all other continuing care clients. Designated supportive living offers a home-like environment that provides 24-hour, on-site scheduled and unscheduled professional and personal care and support, provided by licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides.
Every effort will be made to place patients awaiting continuing care as close to home as possible. However, in times of increased demand, there may be patients who are placed outside their home community or community of first choice, AHS said.
Related:
Health care restructuring must address Red Deer and Central Alberta’s needs
Alberta Health Services, which is responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for Albertans, is currently focused is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.