^I agree with you of the sadness of the whole thing, but for me and mine it is quality of life not quantity. I'm sure many of the folks in these institutions felt the same way but failed to take the necessary steps to avoid it.

^I agree with you of the sadness of the whole thing, but for me and mine it is quality of life not quantity. I'm sure many of the folks in these institutions felt the same way but failed to take the necessary steps to avoid it.

And what steps would that be???

Thanks for the write up, AllseeingEye.

My family and I cared for our declining grandmother, and by far her biggest need was the presence of others. Even though we rented a wonderful house in her last years, I can't say she used much more than bed/kitchen/bathroom and probably couldn't ever recall what the house looked like. While I sympathize with aesthetics concerns like those from nparker, a care facility has to be equipped to meet the needs of its residents first and foremost. If looking like an Orwellian building means extra change for additional staff, it's well worth it.

Thanks for the write up, AllseeingEye.

My family and I cared for our declining grandmother, and by far her biggest need was the presence of others. Even though we rented a wonderful house in her last years, I can't say she used much more than bed/kitchen/bathroom and probably couldn't ever recall what the house looked like. While I sympathize with aesthetics concerns like those from nparker, a care facility has to be equipped to meet the needs of its residents first and foremost. If looking like an Orwellian building means extra change for additional staff, it's well worth it.

Yup, this. Financing aside, another challenge is attracting and retaining staff. Lets be blunt the 'day to day' of these care workers isn't happy times considering the tasks they are charged with. I know from our experience and talking to them stress is a major factor, and I their pay grade isn't exactly the gateway to getting filthy rich.

At the (Carey Rd) Campus of Care they are so concerned with dollars they actually changed the opening time of the small on site cafe and set it back an hour on weekends simply as a cost saving measure. Ditto for the front desk, which is no longer staffed Saturday and Sundays which brings with it its own set of problems particularly if a resident - or an elderly family visiting a resident - needs assistance.

An elderly fellow visiting his wife had car trouble one day; he didn't have BCAA nor a mobile phone, there was no one at the desk who could call out, so I used my phone and called them (I do have BCAA) and they very kindly came out and boosted his dead battery. He was 87 and in failing health, close to tears, and had no other local family. If I hadn't been there who knows what he would've done. Little wonder most of these facilities look to watch construction or aesthetic 'design' costs carefully. Remember too the bulk of the $ they do have is earmarked for specialty medical and other related support equipment, and security measures and systems, which are paramount particularly in a dementia facility.

...While I sympathize with aesthetics concerns like those from nparker, a care facility has to be equipped to meet the needs of its residents first and foremost...

I am at a loss as to how having cheap/ugly exterior finishes will enable the staff at Summit to better meet the needs of its residents.