'It’s a really sad time': 9 residents of a Saskatoon care home left to find a new place
A Saskatoon group home which has been home to intellectually challenged residents for over 25 years is closing its doors in a few weeks leaving residents and their families scrambling to find a place to live.
The increasing cost of living is being blamed for uprooting those who live there, and for residents like Rick Brokofsky, it’s devastating news.
“They told me that we’d have to move, and I almost bawled my eyes out,” Brokofsky told CTV News.
He’s lived at Blue Haven Care Home for three years. “I’m really sad about it. I don’t want to move. I made friends there. It’s really a sad time,” he says.
But they must move because, after 25 years, the home is closing at the end of this month.
Families are being told it’s because the government-allotted money, just over $1,200 a month per resident, is not enough to operate the home.
Terry Kruppi, Brokofsky’s sister saying, the amount hasn’t increased in over 10 years.
“That amount pays for their room and board, and food and she helps take care of them. It’s just not enough, because the cost of living has gone up so much,” Kruppi says.
Families understand what the care home operator is saying, including Arlene Eckert whose brother Lorne has been in the home for 11 years.
“Given the cost of groceries, taxes, gas, utilities, and just running the home, she’s running a deficit every month and she can’t afford to keep doing this,” Eckert told CTV News.
Kruppi says, she’s reached out to the government to have an increase considered but has had no luck.
The Ministry of Health that monitors and licenses care homes offered this statement:
As a private business, personal care homes set their own fees.
A Personal Care Home Benefit through the Ministry of Social Services is available to eligible lower-income seniors living in personal care homes.
But it’s about more than the money for these sisters who say, leaving friends is tough for most people, but for those who live here adapting to change is more complex.
“Stability is very important for them in terms of their emotional and mental well-being,” Eckert said.
Ultimately these families hope the government reconsiders their allotment for residents of personal care homes.
Families are now left to find a home before the end of the month but many admit they are out of their price range with costs coming in around $1,800 per month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6975012.1721775341!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Olympic Committee apologizes after New Zealand accuses Canada women's soccer team of spying on their practices
The Canadian Olympic Committee offered a 'heartfelt' apology to New Zealand Football Tuesday after the New Zealand women's club accused the Canadian women's team of spying on them during a training session.
Pennsylvania state police commissioner reveals stunning details about Trump shooting
A local law enforcement commissioner revealed during a House Homeland Security hearing on Tuesday stunning new details about the security failures that led to the near assassination of Donald Trump, raising more questions for the embattled U.S. Secret Service.
Polar bear at Calgary Zoo died by drowning following 'crushing' injury
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
Laws that could get Canadians in trouble in tourism hotspots
There are some laws in popular tourist destinations around the world that could land Canadian travellers in mild-to-serious trouble if they're not careful. Don't let these local laws land you in hot water during your next vacation abroad.
Clip resurfaces of Vance criticizing Harris for being 'childless,' testing Trump's new running mate
Comments Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance made in 2021 questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership because she did not have biological children have resurfaced, testing the young conservative senator in his early days campaigning as part of the Republicans' presidential ticket.
Jasper evacuees forced into B.C. to flee fires told to make U-turn to Alberta for aid
Thousands of wildfire evacuees forced from Jasper National Park into British Columbia along smoke-choked mountain roads Monday night were directed Tuesday to make a wide U-turn and head home if they needed a place to stay.
'Stars are aligning' for Bank of Canada rate cut: economists
The Bank of Canada is expected to deliver a dose of interest rate relief Wednesday when economists and market watchers predict the central bank will cut its overnight lending rate.
Trudeau hand-picking candidate in Montreal byelection riles aspiring contenders
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to hand-pick a candidate for a riding in an upcoming Montreal byelection isn't being well-received by three aspiring contenders who spent months campaigning only to be shunted aside.
In their own words: Wildfire evacuees recount leaving Jasper
Thousands of residents and visitors were ordered to leave Jasper, Alta., overnight as wildfires burned inside the national park.