-Still no answer on future of lodge building-
OSOYOOS TIMES-October 29, 2008-
By Karen KnelsenrnOsoyoos Times
All residents of Sagebrush Lodge have moved into the Mariposa Gardens seniors care centre on Hwy. 97.
The move began on Oct. 6 and was completed by Oct. 20, said Donna Lommer, program administrator for residential and palliative care for the Okanagan region of Interior Health.
She said the residents and staff were able to take their time with the move.
There was no date that they had to be out, Lommer said. It went well in that we had lots of time to plan for the move.
She said aside from the new living accommodations, residents at the new long-term care facility won't have to endure many other changes, because most of the lodge's staff moved to the new facility as well.
Despite rumours of understaffing at Mariposa Gardens, Lommer said all of the full-time positions are filled, although there are still a few openings for casual staff.
Elaine Taylor, manager of Mariposa Gardens, did say that the facility is only in its first phase of operations at this time.
The first building, which is now open and operating, is referred to as building number 2.
But building number 1 is not yet accepting residents.
There is a waiting list to get in to the facility for people living in other care facilities and from the community, she said.
Building number 1 is scheduled to be open some time in mid to late November.
It will house up to 53 residents and there are still open staffing positions available there.
Taylor said it's a nursing shortage, not a support-staff shortage, the facility is dealing with.
We're doing well with all of our support service, she said.
That includes dietary, house keeping and laundry staff.
They still need dozens of licensed and registered nurses to fill the openings.
With residents into the new facility, the old lodge now stands empty.
But Lommer said it hasn't been forgotten.
We're just exploring the different options that are at that site, she said.
The lodge is owned by Interior Health and Lommer said one of the possible options being considered for the building is to make it a health care centre that could act as a base of operations of sorts for programs and services offered by Interior Health in the South Okanagan.
The transition from Sagebrush to Mariposa began about five years ago when it became apparent that, due to the increasing complexity of patient-care needs, a new facility would be required.
We needed a better functioning physical environment, Lommer said.
Mark Watt, Interior Health's director of health services for Oliver and Osoyoos, could not be reached for comment on the future of the lodge building.
[email protected]
