Retirement News : Seniors : Quinte West - Long-term care budget soars for municipalities

Quinte West - Long-term care budget soars for municipalities

Date Added: 25-03-2005

They are bigger and better, but they also cost more. That’s what council found out after a presentation on Hastings Manor and Centennial Manor by chair of the long-term care committee Tom Deline, CAO Jim Pine and Sue Horwood of Hastings County.
Quinte West will pay $489,368 for its share of the levy for Centennial Manor in Bancroft even though it has no residents in that facility. It will pay $200,103 for Hastings Manor where it has 35 residents.
Craig Desjardins asked, “We are paying $700,000 for 35 people?” he asked.
Tom Deline said, “You probably are.”
Belleville has 159 residents in Hastings Manor and Hastings County has 23, plus there are 29 others. The levy is distributed among Belleville at $886,613, Hastings County at $212,884 and Quinte West at $200,103.
The net cost of Hastings Manor last year was $580,900. In 2005 its net cost is $1,122,600.
Centennial Manor costs have gone up 2.84 per cent, now at $1.5-million.
Mayor Bob Campney asked what the overall increase was for both manors. He was told by Jim PIne it was 20.79 per cent. Quinte West’s share for both is $689,214 up from last year’s $570,582, for an increase of $169,000.
Desjardins asked, “Who came up with those formulas?”
Tom Deline said it goes back to an agreement in 1998 with Hastings County involving a deal with the base, Thurlow, Sidney Township and Frankford during the amalgamation process. Jim Harrison added it was a weighted agreement.
Desjardins asked where Quinte West residents go if not to Hastings Manor. Deline said they probably had private nursing homes.
Hastings Manor in Belleville has increased in size from 100,000 square feet to 195,000 square feet with added air conditioning, eight kitchens and dining rooms, individual washrooms and three elevators. Costs in heat, Hydro and water have gone up 64 per cent, the long-term debt is up 27 per cent, staff is up 11 per cent and other items up two per cent for a total 100 per cent budget increase of $541,700. Three new projects include a medical director’s office at $112,500, a garage at $50,000 and fencing at $15,000.
Harrison said, “This is all very confusing with two different budgets. What is the cost per resident?”
He was told that Hastings Manor has 263 residents, Centennial has 110 residents, so it is about $50,000 to $60,000 per person. “It’s not cheap,“ Deline said.
Sandra Carter wanted to know if the increased size at Hastings Manor meant more beds. Tom Deline said they gave up six beds to Bancroft then got them back plus two more. “We gained two,” he said.
In Public Input, Terry Cassidy asked why Quinte West is still paying for Centennial Manor in Bancroft. “It is beyond logic,” he said.
He added that Hastings County never owned the base. It was owned by Sidney Township. “You need to see if this is a valid long-term cost,” he said.

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