Residents at a retirement home in Dresden may have to find a new place to live after the home’s licence was revoked due to mismanagement of finances and staffing.
The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) issued an “Order to Revoke a Licence” on January 22 for Park Street Place retirement home.
According to the RHRA, the licensee of the home has failed to provide necessary care services to residents and failed to protect them from neglect.
The licensee and owner of the home, known only as 2615412 Ontario Inc., was first issued a retirement home licence in May 2018. The licensee is based in Trenton, Ontario.
The RHRA said the home is currently in a “critical state of debt” which has resulted in late or insufficient payments to the home’s staff and external staffing agencies. This has also resulted in staff resignations or leaves of absence, leaving the home insufficiently staffed to provide adequate care to residents.
The owner/licensee has also failed to compensate a manager who was imposed on the home by a deputy registrar order in September 2023.
“The licensee’s financial and staffing mismanagement of the home is irresponsible, incompetent, and prejudicial to resident health, safety, and welfare,” the RHRA said in its order. “The licensee is focused on reducing expenses and is not guided by ensuring resident needs are met and resident health is safeguarded.”
The licensee is now required to inform RHRA of their intention to either sell the property or cease operating the home as a retirement home by the end of January.
Should the home cease operations as a retirement home, the residents will be forced out. However, the licensee of the home will be required to assist residents, if they request, in finding new accommodations.
“RHRA has also provided information to residents about assistance for care services and placement in long-term care through Home and Community Care Support Services (HCSS),” said Phil Norris, communications manager with RHRA, in an email to CKXS News.
Park Street Place houses up to 52 residents.
“RHRA will work closely with its community partners so residents are supported in finding alternate accommodations and receiving the care they need,” said Norris.
The home’s licence will be officially revoked on May 29.