By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
At age 96, Park Street Place resident Ann is looking for a new home.
Her granddaughter Stacey, who is in charge of her care, said it’s sad that her loved one has to move on from the Dresden retirement home but the uncertainty is unbearable.
“I can’t handle the stress of not knowing what’s going to happen and miss out on an opportunity for a spot in another home,” Stacey told The Chatham Voice in a telephone interview. “My grandma was fully intending for this to be her last place to live. She doesn’t want to leave and she hates to see other people leave.”
Ann and Stacey (not their real names) are but two of the people caught in the fallout from the Retirement Home Regulatory Agency (RHRA)’s recent revocation of the operator’s license to run Park Street Place. As of May 29, the facility will no longer be able to operate as a retirement home offering care.
Residents have been informed that unless a new owner is found, those who stay on at Park Street Place will have to find and pay for their own services, such as food, cleaning and personal hygiene, as well as specialized nursing care, including the disbursement of medication.
The RHRA stated the license was being pulled following a complaint in September 2023. The RHRA undertook an investigation which determined residents were not getting adequate care because of staff shortages and that the licensee was “operating in a critical state of debt,” meaning the bills – including staff payroll – were going unpaid.
The revocation order states that the licensee is focused on reducing expenses and not ensuring resident needs and health are safeguarded, noting it is the deputy registrar’s opinion the licensee’s “financial and staffing mismanagement of the home is irresponsible, incompetent and prejudicial to resident health, safety and welfare.”
The home is owned by a numbered company, with Pushpinder Brah listed as the executive director.
Stacey, who received the late-night email Jan. 22 informing her the home’s license is being pulled, said a “very rough week” followed the surprising news.
However, she’s not blaming staff for the problems, noting caring employees helped make Park Street Place “a home.”
While it may not have all the luxuries of a new retirement home, Stacey said the facility is “cute and quaint” and a “great place.”
“The staff did make it a loving home,” she said. “We trusted our loved ones were being taken care of.”
The blame for the revocation of the license lies squarely on management, Stacey stated, noting investors from outside the municipality haven’t lived up to their obligations.
Losing the home doesn’t just hurt the residents, she said, it’s a blow to staff, the community and the local economy.
“Most of the staff live in the area and this is a loss for everyone,” Stacey said.
It’s unclear what’s next for Park Street Place, however many of the residents at the 48-bed facility are, like Ann, hunting for a new place to live.
Park Street Place is one of 780 licensed retirement homes overseen by the RHRA in Ontario. The non-profit agency, funded primarily by the contributions of owner/operators, receives no government funding. The cost to apply for a retirement home license is $10,000, plus $25 per suite.
As part of the ongoing RHRA fee schedule, licensees currently pay $14 per suite per month to the regulatory body.
According to Stacey, a single resident at the home pays more than $2,000 per month.
An online message from RHRA communication manager Phil Norris said it’s not clear if there will be repercussions against the licensee or former management staff for the problems discovered in September following a complaint.
Information on the RHRA website indicates that the owner/operators found to be in noncompliance can face a $50,000 fine for a first violation and up to $200,000 for a subsequent violation.
It’s unknown if anyone will face any penalties in relation to Park Street Place.
“We cannot speculate about any potential future actions,” Norris said in the message. “RHRA will continue to monitor the situation in order to determine whether additional action is needed.”
The arm of government that oversees the RHRA is the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility.
