Sims ‘torn’ by cancellation of renovations at Frost
Agrees with decision
Friday, April 30, 2004 - John Driscoll
Gary Sims, administrator at Frost Manor in Lindsay, says he is “torn” by the decision to cancel $200,000 worth of renovations at the home.

'“I understand why the decision to cancel the renovations was made and I agree with Fraser (Wilson, CEO) on it,” Gary says. “By taking the position of cutting capital costs rather than services to residents, he has taken the high road.”

However, the decision to cancel the renovations at Frost does sadden him, Gary says. “We were within a week or two of starting the work,” he says. “For Frost, this major renovation is very important for recruitment and retention.”

Fraser announced last week major renovations at Frost, as well as at Village Green in Selby and Almonte Country Haven, would have to be cancelled because of the provincial government's decision to retroactively cut provincial funding for property taxes for 2003 with a sharper cut planned for 2004.

That surprise move amounts to the loss of $1.2 million over two years for OMNI, Fraser says.

Some other homes in the Lindsay area told Victoria-Haliburton-Brock MPP Laurie Scott last week they will have to cut services to residents because of the government initiative, Gary says.

The renovations at Frost are important because of increasing competition, he says. “With the addition of 20,000 new long-term care beds in the province every home in the province now has open beds.”

There has been an alarming 60 per cent increase in two months in the number of homes that have dropped below 97 per cent occupancy, Gary points out.

Any home that has between 97 and 100 per cent occupancy receives full provincial funding but automatically loses three per cent of its funding when it drops below 97 per cent occupancy and loses funding for every bed below that.

Frost, currently with 62 beds and 57 residents, is three residents below 97 per cent occupancy, Gary says.