What we know about the nursing home that suddenly closed

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Trillium Care Norwich, a small nursing home in the Norwich community south of Woodstock, On Saturday, it suddenly announced that it would close its doors to residents on November 11.. With just two weeks left for residents to find new accommodation, the 18 seniors living in the home face an uncertain future. Here’s what we know about the house, which OPP began investigating in August after several people said they lost more than $50,000 due to alleged fraud.

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REASON FOR CLOSING

The Free Press obtained a copy of an email Trillium Care Norwich sent to relatives and residents citing “an urgent lack of financial resources to maintain daily operations” as the reason for the closure.

OPP INVESTIGATION

In August, the Oxford OPP released a statement. Investigation into Norwich nursing home where people lost more than $50,000. Although police did not specifically name Trillium Care Norwich as the site of the fraud investigation, resident Miranda Guitard, her husband’s 90-year-old grandmother, was told by a staff member to pay $6,000 in rent, which she did via email. the transfer never reached home. OPP said Monday the investigation is ongoing. It is unclear whether the facility’s closure was a result of allegations of fraud.

HUGE INCREASE IN RENTS

He told Trillium Care Norwich Guitard earlier this month: mother-in-law’s rent will increase from $1,500 per month to $3,920 As of January. It is unclear whether other residents have been asked to pay additional rent, but Guitard said he is in the process of finding a place at the long-term care home for the elderly woman, who has been diagnosed with dementia. “They are on waiting lists for long-term care. So as of right now, he has nowhere to go.”

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NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE HOMES COMPARED

Both nursing homes and long-term care facilities offer assisted living to residents. According to the Ontario government website, there are approximately 780 nursing homes in the province. Nursing homes are generally privately owned. Residents of nursing homes are responsible for all costs of services such as rent and food. Residents of nursing homes generally require less medical care than residents of long-term care homes, which provide on-site care 24 hours a day and assistance with daily living.

REGULATOR’S REACTION

Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) official Raymond Chan said in a statement that the agency was “aware of (Trillium Care Norwich’s) intention to cease operations as a licensed facility on 11 November” but could not comment on the matter. any investigation. He also could not comment or speculate on whether he played a role in closing the investigation. Chan said it was unusual for facilities to close on such short notice and that the Nursing Homes Act requires “a licensee to give residents and the RHRA at least 120 days’ notice before a home is scheduled to close.” Chan said that in cases where residents urgently seek alternative accommodation, the regulator’s focus is on helping those in need and will consider “appropriate consequences once the situation is no longer urgent.” Chan said in his statement that in an earlier incident, the nursing home was not forthright with authorities. In July, Chan wrote that “licensee’s staff provided false or misleading information about steps taken to repair the home’s only elevator.” He added that the home did not have a maintenance program that would “ensure that timely and reasonable steps are taken” to keep the home “and its operational systems in good condition.”

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WHAT DOES TRILLIUM CARE NORWICH SAY?

Trillium Care Norwich has been tight-lipped since it began attracting attention in August for allegations of home fraud. On multiple occasions, staff have declined to comment on the investigation, and an employee also declined to comment on the home’s impending closing Monday. But in an email to residents and family members, the home said it was “committed to supporting” residents “during this transition.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Where residents go will depend on available space at other facilities and individuals’ care needs. They will need a long-term care facility for residents who need more care, like Guitard’s mother-in-law. According to the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, a person waited an average of 126 days to access long-term care in 2022 and 2023. For those looking for another nursing home, Trillium encourages residents to contact RHRA.

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@BrianWatLFPress

The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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