The announcement of $7 million in funding for an expansion in the Sunshine Hillview Lodges means more opportunity for seniors on a fixed income to receive the care they need as they age.
The Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation is a non-profit board that owns and operates supported living at the Sunshine and Hillview Lodge. It also manages provincially owned facilities including the manors in Drumheller as well as senior lodges in Delia and in Morrin. The board has representation from Drumheller, Starland County, as well as Morrin, Munson, and Delia.
“The Foundation’s mandate is basically affordable seniors supported living housing,” said Board Chair Tom Zariski.
He explains that private senior living accommodations are typically funded through rent paid by the senior. Whereas the foundation bases its care on financial need. It has a formula that ensures seniors with a fixed income are not spending all of their funds on accommodations.
The foundation is funded through the fees that seniors contribute to their care as well as a requisition collected through local property taxes. It also receives some grants from the province such as the Lodge Assistance Program (LAP), a subsidy for people of low income.
He says some people live at Sunshine and Hillview Lodge who are over the income threshold for being in need, and their rent is not subsidized.
“Because we don’t get the LAP grant for that, he pays the equivalent,” said Zariski.
“So you will have people in Sunshine Lodge paying very little, or paying full bore and everything in between.”
The expansion announcement paves the way for Senior Supportive Living, level 4.This is the highest level of designated supportive living for seniors.