Résidence aux Beaux Séjours (RBS), located in Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, is a senior home for 7 residents who live with varying loss of autonomy and require regular care beyond the measures available to them from their own private homes. 

 

RBS is in great jeopardy of closing its door due to disputes between the CISSS de la Cote Nord and the private owner regarding building codes and lease details that have ultimately resulted in the termination of the lease. The CISSS de la Cote Nord has decided to cease operations of RBS and end the contract with the private owner– this is simply unacceptable. As of now none of the key stakeholders/decision makers have provided updates to the population or families regarding the fate of the residents. There are a few presumed options that raise many concerns: 

Patriating residents to other remote regions - The current and future residents from the Municipalities of Bonne Esperance and Lourdes de Blanc Sablon would be moved to another facility in a remote region where road access to these regions does not exist. Moving seniors to a new facility where family visitations would be limited is not patient and family-centered care and can exacerbate existing conditions for the resident. This is unacceptable for the resident, facility staff and family from afar. 

Residents going back home – Some families may be forced to accommodate their households and work lives to care for their senior family members. However, this may not be well achieved due to costs for special equipment, structural alterations and access to qualified care that will come on site regularly.

Residents will be moved to the hospital in Blanc-Sablon where overcrowding is a concern as well as sacrificing many services, activities, comforts and amenities that RBS residents currently enjoy being semi-autonomous and not requiring the same care long-term patients currently living in the hospital require. 

Travel - Airfare to fly from one community to another within the Basse Cote Nord is expensive and inconvenient given the number of cancellations due to weather. Travelling by vehicle, especially during the winter months is challenging enough. 

We the concerned residents cannot stand by and watch the doors close on this necessary institution for our region, however, this isn’t the first time the threat of closing doors has occurred. The same situation arose in 2016 and as an interim solution, the Coasters Association undertook a 2-year contract (April 2016-2018) and then again (April 2018-March 2019) to operate RBS as a stopgap measure to prevent closure. From April 2019 to present, the CISSSCN has been temporarily managing the residence and had a failed call for tenders an effort to finding a more permanent solution.

So to summarize:

A non-profit organization not within its mandate or capacity to operate the residence operated the residence for 3.5 years.

1 call for tender by CISSSCN for a buyer/operator did not result in a suitable candidate.

Why is it in almost 4 years, a permanent solution couldn’t be determined?

After many attempts to have been made to contact the involved organizations, it’s clear to the concerned citizens that there has been no major attempt to find a solution for our seniors, who will 

ultimately pay the price for ineffective governance. 

Our seniors deserve much better in terms of care as well as their right to remain in their region, be supported by caring staff and allow them the opportunity for friends and family to visit and be proactive members of the resident’s care plan. We, the concerned residents of the Municipality of Bonne Esperance and Municipality of Lourdes de Blanc Sablon turn to the media in hopes that all of us in the communities can work together to raise awareness, collaborate and implement a senior-friendly plan that keeps seniors close to home and families.