Monthly Bulletin
March 2022
NEWS, INITIATIVES AND EVENTS
COVID-19
The province is transitioning to an endemic approach to Covid-19. We still have a role in keeping ourselves and others safe from Covid-19. The tsunami-like 5th wave has fallen and appears to be leveling off; the associated hospitalization surge is easing.
As of March 16, there were approximately 6,500 active detected cases in Alberta, but the actual number of active cases in the province is estimated to be much higher than the testing results indicate due to the cutbacks to the testing program. The Bow Valley region has approximately 50 detected cases. Tragically more than 4,000 Albertans had died. Alberta will move to weekly updates.
Alberta’s vaccine rollout has surpassed 8.5M doses, including approximately 1.5M boosters administered. Those who are fully vaccinated are much less likely to develop severe disease.
The province has continued to ease restrictions and while most measures were lifted on March 1, 2022, that did not include the restrictions in continuing care, including lodges, and there is no timing yet identified for that part of society.
Planning – Budgets
Lodge operating, reserve and capital budget development continues. Alberta Seniors and Housing have provided us with our 2022 Social Housing operating budgets, which include some cost increases considering inflation, as well as an increase to our Rent Supplement Program of approximately 7%. Furthermore, the department has acknowledged an average vacancy in seniors’ lodges of approximately 20%, reflecting some of the operational impacts the pandemic is having on these programs. We are anticipating a reduction of approximately 8% to our municipal requisition in 2022.
Designated Supportive Living Operations Planning
Senior management continues to work on the operating model in collaboration with Alberta Health Services and other relevant professionals ahead of operations following construction of Phase 2.
PROGRAM OCCUPANCY RATES
Bow River Lodge 92%
Cascade House 79%
Bow River Homes 100%
Mount Edith House 100%
Community Housing 100%
Rent Supplement 100%
SPECIAL PROJECTS
This is Home (Phase 2)
Meanwhile, construction of the designated supportive living addition to Bow River Lodge is in its final stages. The picture shows the progress.
Schedule: Clark Builders continues to work with the province and Marshall Tittimore Architects on the design and construction planning of the 60 bed DSL4/D facility. Demolition of the old lodge is complete, having made way for the new building, while leaving the newer southeast wing in place for future use. That building, the southeast wing has been established as a stand-alone building now. Expect substantial completion in Q1 2022, followed by commissioning in Q3-4 2022.
Design: This facility has been designed to meet the needs of designated supportive living level 4 and dementia operations, including enhanced safety and care-provision considerations. We expect to have to add enhanced infection prevention and control safeguards as the lessons of COVID take hold.
Economics: The current capital cost is $17.4 million; the Government of Alberta has committed $16.5 million to date. BVRH has agreed to contribute the remaining 5% of the capital budget (up to a maximum of $900,000) to keep the project viable.
RESOURCES
• In an emergency, please dial 911.
• For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information for Albertan’s information on diseases, treatments, staying well, and healthcare services dial 811.
• For 24/7 community program & service information, including affordability programming in the Bow Valley dial 211.
ABOUT BOW VALLEY REGIONAL HOUSING
Bow Valley Regional Housing (BVRH) is a Housing Management Body (HMB) serving the Government of Alberta and the Bow Valley Region. HMB operational funding sources vary. Tenants pay accommodation fees. Those fees are subject to affordability limits, which prevents them from fully covering the costs of operations. Provincial grants and municipal ratepayer requisitions subsidize seniors lodge deficits, while the province also subsidizes deficits in independent seniors and community housing.
As the HMB for the Bow Valley region, BVRH is responsible for social housing, as well as affordable supportive living accommodation for seniors throughout Kananaskis Country, the Bow Corridor, the MD of Bighorn and all of Banff National Park, an area covering about 13,500 square kilometres.
All told, we currently house, or help to house approximately 400 residents of the Bow Valley in eight permanent housing projects encompassing 36 separate buildings.
