BVRH News

April 2022 BVRH Monthly Bulletin

Monthly Bulletin
April 2022

NEWS, INITIATIVES, AND EVENTS
COVID-19

The province continues to transition to an endemic approach to Covid19. We still have a role in keeping ourselves and others safe from
Covid-19. The 6th wave is rising, but data seems to indicate that it will
not be as dramatic as the 5th wave and may be cresting.
The province has stopped reporting detailed case numbers, but at this
point in the pandemic, the best way to track the situation is through
wastewater surveillance data and hospitalizations. Both measures
indicate that the 6th wave is well underway. The Bow Valley region
reportedly has low-to-medium level case rates. Tragically nearly 4,200
Albertans have reportedly died from the virus.

Alberta’s vaccine rollout continues, including 4th dose booster
availability to higher-risk cohorts. 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. There is no timing yet
identified for that part of society.
BVRH experienced our first incidence of covid infection in our seniors’
lodges this month. A total of six residents were infected, source
unknown, four of whom had mild-to-moderate cold-like symptoms,
while two were asymptomatic.

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 91%
Cascade House 84%
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 all but complete. We are now dealing with
deficiencies and early commissioning phases of the project.
Schedule: Expect substantial completion in Q2 2022, followed by
opening in late Q3 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 prevent 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 kilometers.
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.