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Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health is keeping tight-lipped about a private care home in Regina that abruptly closed this week.
The Century Care Home on Rose Street officially closed on Thursday, but families were only given one day’s notice, in some cases, that the six residents had to move out of the home.
When asked about the situation, Dawn Skalicky-Souliere, director of licensing with the Ministry of Health, couldn’t give many answers. While she wouldn’t say exactly why the home closed, she did say that the ministry wasn’t aware of any problems with the level of care the residents were receiving.
Skalicky-Souliere said “in this case, the care home owner does not wish to operate,” though she wouldn’t specify as to why.
The Ministry of Health doesn’t operate private care homes, but they do inspect them.
“(The ministry’s) role is one of licensing and monitoring to ensure the residents are provided with safe and appropriate care,” Skalicky-Souliere explained.
Skalicky-Souliere wouldn’t say how the ministry found out about the problem, whether it was through an inspection or someone from outside coming forward. She would only say the ministry found out about “a situation” last Friday, and they responded immediately.
Residents are normally given more notice when a care home is closing, but Skalicky-Souliere wouldn’t explain, specifically, why they weren’t in this case.
“In some instances, it’s not in the interest of the resident for the notice period to occur.”
She also wouldn’t elaborate on what situations might necessitate a notice period not being given, saying that she can’t deal with hypothetical situations.
Skalicky-Souliere said the ministry worked with the health region and families to move the residents to alternate care arrangements – whether that is in a new home or with family.
LSchick@rawlco.com
Follow on Twitter: @LMSchickler
