Editor:
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) recently unveiled plans to support the development of a new, purpose-built residential care facility in Sechelt to care for the aging members of the community. Silverstone Care Centre is a priority project and the right thing for the Sunshine Coast, for our seniors, and for the quality of life and care they deserve.
Rebuilding or replacing Shorncliffe and Totem is not possible. It would take around $35 million of government money – including some $14 million of new local taxation – to rebuild them plus another $10 million for land. That money is not available to us.
Without this agreement, there will be no new government-funded residential care facility in Sechelt. This is the reality we face every day in managing health care resources. Trellis will bring the capital investment to build the new care home while VCH will provide the operating dollars for 125 beds – 20 more than currently exist. VCH simply does not have the capital dollars to build a new facility. Nor does government.
This way, Sechelt will get a brand new, purpose-built residential care home to greatly improve the quality of life and care for the seniors who will call it home. No more multi-resident rooms, shared bathrooms or leaking pipes. Our seniors deserve that. No amount of emotive rhetoric should deny them.
And to those who argue “private” is bad, I remind them that the majority of doctors are private operators, as are the hundreds of businesses who supply the goods and services to support our health system. Quality of care will not be compromised. VCH will make sure of that. Silverstone will also be a unionized facility, giving staff continuity and support.
Over the past decade or so, all levels of government have invested heavily in the Sunshine Coast. Christenson Village and the $44-million expansion of Sechelt Hospital are examples. It concerns me that misinformation is being spread by some whose interests appear to ignore the needs and quality of life of seniors. I ask that you visit www.vch.ca/silverstone to get the facts.
People must keep their eyes and minds open to the benefits of change for our seniors. Silverstone will improve their quality of life and give them a stable, respectful and sustainable place to call home. Let’s not deny them because of ideology.
Kip Woodward, Chair, Board of Directors, Vancouver Coastal Health
