Dear Editor:
(This is a copy of a letter written to Premier Alison Redford and also submitted to Stettler Mayor Dick Richards, Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith and the Stettler Independent).
My husband is a patient at Pine Ridge nursing home in Stettler.
We have been informed that as of July 2013, Pine Ridge will be closing and the patients will be moved either to a new private home/lodge (Points West Living) on the outskirts of town or to Heritage House auxiliary hospital, depending on the assessment of a group of people who probably only know him by reading his records.
The nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing aides, recreational therapists and housekeeping staff will lose their jobs.
If they’re hired at the new private home, they will lose their benefits, their pensions and a substantial amount of pay.
These employees work hard and are compassionate and caring for the sick and elderly patients.
There is talk that the owners of the new private nursing home are recruiting foreign workers.
What about your promise to keep our people employed?
My husband, Norman Dean, has been living in Pine Ridge for more than six months.
He has just recently become comfortable with the staff and the surroundings.
Now you want to move him to foreign territory and start all over again?
What happened to caring for our elderly people?
Please reconsider closing Pine Ridge and give us some peace of mind in our old age and security for these wonderful nurses and staff.
Belinda L. Dean,
Stettler