CORNWALL – Cornwall’s Red Cross will be getting out of providing home support services.
Colleen Lowe, manager of communications for the Canadian Red Cross, said the agency determined it was “no longer optimally positioned to deliver home support services.”
In a statement to Cornwall Newswatch, Lowe indicated the Red Cross evaluated the program and determined that it was not sustainable and did not align with the agency’s core strengths.
The Red Cross is now working with the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to transition the program to another provider within the next year to a year-and-a-half.
Home care services include personal care, such as bathing and grooming, home management for items like preparing meals and light housekeeping, as well as respite care.
“Because we will be transitioning these services, clients will continue to receive care and client safety will be the top consideration throughout the transition process,” she said.
“For now, it is business as usual, while the planning for this transition gets underway.”
Lowe couldn’t say how many staff will be affected as they hope to have employees transfer with the program as it makes the transition to another agency.
The Cornwall Red Cross serves approximately 265 clients in Cornwall, as well as Rockland and Alexandria.
According to the Canadian Red Cross website, home care services are only offered in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario.