The City of Greater Sudbury is approaching a crisis in the area
of assisted-living and long term care services for our senior
citizens. We have an urgent need for more facilities that will
allow our seniors to maintain the highest quality of high of
life possible during their final years. We owe it to our seniors
to provide them with a lifestyle which includes a medical regime
consistent with their needs and allows them to live with
dignity. Unfortunately, we have not been successful in
encouraging enough interest from the private sector to provide
for our needs.
Therefore, I will be proposing to City Council that the City of
Greater Sudbury undertake to build two new 132 unit facilities
which will provide a combination of assisted-living and long
term care options for seniors currently living in our community.
Further I will be proposing that these two facilities be
developed simultaneously and open by end of 2016.
I will be submitting a plan to City Council whereby the City of
Greater Sudbury will build and own these facilities while
entering into a lease-to-own agreement with a private sector
provider which will generate enough money to service the
principal and interest payments on the financing needed to
develop the establishments. This will be a break-even
arrangement on the part of the city which will allow the private
sector provider with a sufficient return on investment to make
this a worthwhile venture.
There are a number of private sector companies that are making a
profit running senior long term care homes, but they have been
reluctant to develop in the Greater Sudbury Area. Therefore, if
funding and getting through the backlog of red tape has been a
problem; the City of Greater Sudbury can build the facilities on
city-owned land and fast-track the process. We will build the
kind of facility that will allow our seniors to enjoy
appropriate accommodation and the kind of care that will provide
them with a dignified healthy lifestyle and a level of medical
assistance that is suited to their needs.
This one of those areas or responsibility where City Council
cannot afford to wait any longer to take action. We have a
responsibility to our seniors, and while we will do whatever we
can to help them remain in their homes and apartments as long as
they are able to care for themselves, there comes a time when
long-term care may be necessary. There must be some place for
them to go when that time comes and since the private sector has
been reluctant to invest in this kind of facility, then the City
of Greater Sudbury must provide it. We cannot sit back and wash
our hands of this problem or hope that it will go away. The plan
I am proposing will mean no increase in taxes and in fact will
free up many current homes and apartments in the area allowing
for a greater influx of new residents and hence help stimulate
our entire economy.
For more information visit Robert Kirwan’s web site at
www.robertkirwan.ca
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