Worry, uncertainty looms as closing date nears for White Rock mental health housing facility
Peace Arch NewsMar 25, 2023
A mental health housing facility in White Rock is nearing its closing date, and while arrangements have been made for the accommodation of some of its residents, not all are feeling comfortable with – or even know – where they are headed next.
The uncertainty is once again raising concerns among residents, their families and staff members of
White Rock City Coun.
"It's a program in our community that I believe we need to have here, as mental health issues have been escalating through COVID and are continuing to," Klassen said.
"It's very sad that we'll be losing one of the only programs, if not the only program, for seniors with mental health issues."
On
'Things can change in a heartbeat with mental health'
That facility is scheduled to open
Miller isn't holding his breath.
"Things can change in a heartbeat with mental health," he said.
"(David) was supposed to go to another place but that didn't turn out."
He also explained that once before, David was placed in a facility, but was taken to hospital only a few days later and placed in a psychiatric hold because staff at the new residence were not able to care for him.
"Fingers and toes are crossed" that the Cloverdale facility will be a good fit for David and he won't have to move another time, Miller said.
But not every resident from
"Three residents have been accepted to other facilities and we are awaiting their decisions," Amory said, adding that the health authority is still seeking solutions for the remaining two.
Her mother, Magdalena, 87, has been living at
At this point, Magdalena does not know where she will go once
"Any move will be difficult (but) if
"If she were to move where a similar type of care (to
The family learned that the new space in Cloverdale has stairs up to its bedrooms, making it inaccessible for Magdalena and possibly others, Coombs said, because her mother is not the only older adult who will be needing a new home in June.
When the family toured one option, Magdalena didn't like it because it was "institutional" rather than like a home, said her other daughter,
"I'll die if you send me there," Magdalena told her family, Diamond shared.
Hope lingers for decision reversal
The White Rock home offers, for its residents, a "family," with many of them spending their days together, going out for a meal or to the mall. All that will be lost if they are separated, family members said.
Many have been living there for more than 20 years.
"We're still hoping they decide to keep it open," Coombs said.
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
"Contracts are not transferable to other operators," Whiteside said.
"It is also my understanding that the home is quite old and that it may or may not … into the future, it may not be the most appropriate space," adding that the house was built in 1916.
Whiteside said she is empathetic towards the residents of
Klassen, meanwhile, acknowledged that keeping
"I believe that residents shouldn't be forced out of their own community," Klassen said.
Surrey-White Rock MLA
"No matter what the decision ends up being or what the resolution is, a number of residents and their families have been traumatized through this experience and that is unnecessary. Full stop," Halford said.
"Nobody from
He called the decision "short-sighted."
"I don't think they're realizing here the human impact that this is having, they're looking at it from a different lens. I think the lens it needs to be (seen through) is what is best for the people who are residing at
"I have talked with the minister of health. I plan on doing that again next week and seeing what we can do moving forward."