Keep seniors home in Willowdale

What would happen to our senior residents if one of the city’s only long-term care homes in North York were effectively shut down?

What if all those beds for our seniors were moved downtown, away from North York?

That was the threat to Carefree Lodge.

The City of Toronto, Long-Term Care Homes & Services division presented a new cost-saving strategy that looked at options for its long-term care homes.

One of the options recommended by consultants in the report was to transfer all of the beds from Carefree Lodge in Willowdale to a large downtown facility.

I have serious concerns with this notion. Carefree Lodge is an important long-term care home in our community. We need more services for our seniors, not less.

Carefree Lodge is a smaller facility with a long history of excellent volunteers who assist residents and staff.

It serves our seniors who need long-term care and wish to remain close to their friends and family in the area.

At Toronto City Council’s December meeting, I presented a motion that directed the general manager of long-term care homes & services to look at expanding or building a larger long-term care home in Willowdale instead of closing Carefree Lodge.

Fortunately, the motion was supported by council and passed.

As we move forward in 2014, I will be working with city staff to find ways to preserve and enhance Carefree Lodge and provide better services for our seniors here in Willowdale.

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO