Seniors to be moved out of Holy Cross

Health officials have ordered more than 40 seniors needing long-time care moved out of a facility in Calgary over the next two weeks.

Holy Cross Manor has been unable to provide enough qualified staff to run the extended care operation on the third floor and patients' needs, such as bathing,were not being met in a timely fashion, according to Brenda Huband, a spokeswoman forthe Calgary Regional Health Authority.

Holy Cross is also facing fire code violations, including concerns about fire alarms, sprinkler systems and back-up power provisions, she said. Those violations are to be answered in court at the end of March.

Huband said the health authority didn't make the decision lightly and would cover the cost of the move.

"We were aware of concerns related to the care for the last few months and we've just recently been made aware of the concerns related to the fire [code violations], and it was the two together that brought us to the decision that we needed to move the residents."

Untilthe40 seniors can be accommodated elsewhere, the health region will provide the staff necessary to ensure they get the care they need when they need it at the Holy Cross, she said. No other clients at the Holy Cross are affected.

Jason Hatcher, a spokesman for Enterprise Universal,the company that runs the Holy Cross, said they areworking on the staffing and fire code issues.

"We've had all inspections performed, but at no point in time was there any threat to the safety of the staffor residents here. So no patients have been removed or transferred from the centre here and we're working with the city and region to address all concerns."

In February,management and assisted living residents at Holy Cross were in a dispute over a rent hike that would see residents paying as much as 42 per cent more a month for care.