Sign this petition to tell Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) not to force Forest Glen Seniors independent/assisted living facility to house out-of-town clients while there is a waitlist to house Ucluelet and area resident seniors.

Forest Glen is a 10 apartment Seniors residence located in Ucluelet, BC. It serves the communities of this Pacific Rim area of approximately 5-6,000 people. It is the only housing facility dedicated to seniors in the entire region.

It was built by local citizens specifically to serve local area Seniors. It is managed by a Board of volunteers and a non-profit Sea View Seniors Housing Society.  Their mandate is to provide housing for local seniors, both those requiring Assisted Living and those who can live independently but would benefit from safe and secure subsidized housing. Without the provision of this housing many seniors are faced with the choice of leaving a community of family and long-time friends.

Of the 10 suites in Forest Glen, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) has a contract to provide 3 Assisted Living Suites to qualified Seniors.

Up to now, the Board  was able to maintain a policy of meeting the needs of local seniors. If a local senior requiring Assisted Living had not been identified when a vacancy occurred, the Society could offer the suite to a senior in Ucluelet and surrounding area, provided the next available vacancy reverts back to an assisted-living unit.  There is a wait list of seniors who have been assessed for a variety of needs as well as connection to the community.

The practice that has for years given priority to local residents, is now being challenged by VIHA.  Forest Glen is now being told to accept placement of Assisted Living clients from anywhere on Vancouver Island, before being able to offer the vacant suite to a local Independent Living client.

One of the 3 assisted-living units is currently available at Forest Glen. Because there is no identified local senior requiring an Assisted Living placement, VIHA is insisting that Forest Glen accept Assisted Living clients from outside of the local area.

The placement of non-residents who have no family or friends support system in this isolated community is a questionable practice. Moving seniors, that require assistance to live on their own, from other communities to Ucluelet is problematic because Ucluelet has limited medical services, extremely limited public transit and is isolated on the West Coast. Ucluelet has one highway in or out, and few of the services many come to expect in areas closer to urban centres. Because Care Aides provided by VIHA are only in the building briefly during each day. There is no staff on site over the weekends and holidays. The administrator is not responsible for medical needs, and can only call for assistance if help is needed. This is why support of family and friends is crucial for safe care of the Assisted Living clients.

By insisting that the suite be held empty until an appropriate Assisted living client from elsewhere on Vancouver Island can be found, VIHA is taking away from a resource that the community is already too short of!