Island Health is extending the temporary appointment of an administrator to oversee the day-to-day operations at Comox Valley Seniors Village.
Due to problems with non-compliance with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act (CCALA), Susan Abermann was appointed administrator for six months, starting Sept. 30, 2019.
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On Friday, Island Health’s board of directors extended the appointment to at least July 31, after reviewing a recommendation from the North Island Medical Health Officer (MHO).
“All seniors living in publicly-funded long-term care homes deserve high-quality, safe and dignified care,” board chair Leah Hollins said in a news release. “While there has been progress made towards meeting legislated care standards at this site, the Medical Health Officer was clear that ongoing support is needed.”
The MHO’s recommendation to extend the appointment was based on detailed reports from Abermann and Island Health’s Community Care Facilities Licensing program. Abermann and Licensing both recommended an extension of the appointment.
The MHO found that while there has been considerable progress towards meeting legislated standards of care at CVSV, the site required an additional period of administration to ensure sustainable systems and staffing can be maintained beyond the administrator’s appointment.
“We need to have a system we can rely on,” said Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard, who credits the families that voiced their concerns. “Our seniors deserve quality care. Confidence in the system is what we need. It’s about proper management.”
Abermann will continue to report to the board, and provide comprehensive leadership of the daily operation and management of the facility.
The CCALA stipulates that operators must demonstrate ongoing progress towards system stability and compliance, to the satisfaction of the administrator, Licensing and the MHO, before an administrator is removed from a site.
CVSV is a privately owned, 136-bed long-term care facility operated by Pacific Reach Seniors Housing Management operating as West Coast Seniors Housing Management, which is part of the Retirement Concepts group of companies. Island Health publicly funds 120 of the beds.