March 6, 2024
OLDS – Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Seasons Encore in Olds have temporarily increased the number of designated supportive living beds in town, as part of ongoing efforts to address capacity pressures in acute care facilities.
Nine new designated supportive living beds were added at Seasons Encore on March 1 to support patients who no longer need acute care services and can be transitioned to more appropriate sites of care. Those waiting in community settings, such as a home or lodge, who require a higher level of care may also be placed into these temporary spaces.
“Having additional capacity added in Olds will be a big benefit to the residents of Mountain View County, allowing patients to remain as close to home as possible,” says Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.
“This additional capacity will help ensure the right services and supports are in place to best meet the needs of those we serve,” adds Lori Sparrow, Senior Operating Officer Community and Seniors Health, AHS Central Zone.
These nine spaces will remain operational for a 12-month period, during which time they will help maintain capacity in acute care at sites throughout AHS Central Zone. Patients and their families will be supported in moving to these temporary spaces where they will receive the same level of care and support as all other continuing care clients. Designated supportive living offers a home-like environment that provides 24-hour on-site scheduled and unscheduled professional and personal care and support, provided by licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides.
Every effort will be made to place patients awaiting continuing care as close to home as possible. However, in times of increased demand, there may be patients who are placed outside their home community or community of first choice.
Residents remaining in the temporary spaces will be relocated to alternative continuing care spaces prior to the end of the 12-month contract period to allow for the decommissioning of the temporary spaces.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
