Google Maps image of Harbourside Lodge location. Image c/o Google Maps
The CEO of Harbourside Lodge says that while change is hard, a recent announcement is good news for the community.
The province announced last week that the Harbourside Lodge Adult Residential Facility in Yarmouth will be phased out over a period of 12 to 18 months.
CEO of Mountains and Meadows Care Group Joyce d’Entremont says a government commitment for five to seven small-option homes to accommodate some of the 27 residents could result in more hires at Harbourside – not job cuts.
“Moving our residents into the community, we’re actually going to need more staff than we have today at Harbourside Lodge,” she explained. “We know this is not a cost-saving exercise. It’s about having our residents re-integrated into the community.”
d’Entremont says the change will happen gradually, and the residents are looking forward to gaining more independence.
“The first part of this activity and exercise will be that we will be meeting with all of our residents,” she noted. “They will have a voice and a choice in this. We did announce it to them last week and I can tell you they were very excited.”
The move is part of the government’s commitment to discontinue the use of large institutional settings for people in the Disability Support Program.
