By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE—Anson Place Care Centre, a Hagersville-based facility currently housing both retirement living and long-term care services, has announced the impending closure of its retirement home section this fall.
“After conducting a thorough review of the long-term viability of Anson Place’s retirement operations, we came to the difficult decision to close the retirement section of the home,” said Anson Place Executive Director Lisa Roth in a statement to The Press.
According to Roth, there are currently 20 residents living in the retirement facility who will be impacted by the closure. She explained, “The 20 retirement residents, their families, and our team members were informed late last week, and we anticipate the retirement operations will wind down in early September.”
An anonymous phone call to The Press from an Anson Place resident who will be displaced by the closure said that the news came in the form of a group meeting last week, and that they felt the details were scarce at the time.
“Our priority is to ensure every resident finds a new home, and we have a team of people who will be working closely with residents and their families,” assured Roth. “It is important to note that the transition process for the residents to a new home will take precedence over any specific timeline.”
Roth did not provide any further insights on the decision-making process behind the closure.
However, Anson Place’s website notes they are capable of housing up to 40 residents in their retirement home facilities, meaning the current figure of 20 residents suggests the facility has been operating under capacity, and therefore with reduced income being generated, which brings into question the financial viability of the retirement units for the facility.
Haldimand Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady commented on the closure, noting, “We’ve seen the same situation in Delhi. And basically, the issue there was that the retirement model set up there many years ago is no longer efficient today.”
She continued, “We also have a government that is pushing seniors to age at home, which is a lovely thought until people realize that the supports to allow people to age at home are not in place…. Secondly, during the pandemic, many families (were) opting for aging at home because they felt it was safer for their loved ones. And I believe that is still creating a ripple effect.”
Despite the apparent current excess of retirement rooms, The Press has previously reported on the need for more diverse housing and rental options in the community, particularly amongst retirement-aged residents looking to downsize from often-built multi-storey homes.
The Press will provide further updates on this matter if available.
