He and his wife were burning their dinners after leaving them on the stove. So Bryant opted for an assisted living suite in Drumlin Hills while his wife moved into a nearby long-term care home. That way, he could visit her three times a week and still have food and cleaning services in his apartment. Now Bryant, along with other people in assisted living, are worried about their future. Last week, they received notice from Rosedale Investments Limited – the company that bought the building this year – that three daily meals, weekly cleaning and help from staff will stop on November 30 and will no longer be included in their leases. Many seniors in the building fear being kicked out because they can’t fend for themselves. Drumlin Hills was originally built by Atlantic Baptist Housing over 20 years ago. It is now privately owned and receives no government funding. The only cooking appliances in Bryant’s kitchen: kettle, toaster and rice cooker. (Robert Short/CBC) “Change comes so suddenly … and change is not a good thing” for seniors, Bryant says. The building has 24 assisted care units where residents receive assistance with meals, laundry and cleaning. There are also 72 independent living units that allow seniors to downsize from their homes while cooking for themselves. Drumlin Hills residents chat outside the building. (Robert Short/CBC) Bryant says tenants were unexpectedly given forms asking them to agree to new leases last week. “I have too many people coming at me with a form that says fill it out, you’re going to go here next or you’re going to do this next. I want to know, what’s next? What am I doing?” he said. Residents in Drumlin Hills have been notified that many services will stop until November 30. (Provided by residents in Drumlin Hills) The Drumlin Hills administrator declined to comment on any changes presented in the letters. (Supplied by residents in Drumlin Hills) The monthly rent has been reduced and so have the services. The letter states “the rental will now include a kitchen and a dishwasher. The units will be converted with the new appliances as they are vacant. Tenants will either be moved into completed units or have work done on their current unit. Alternatively, they will you could have a Toaster oven added to your current unit (not dishwasher and oven) and opt out of enhanced services on September 1, 2022.”
He feels insecure
Bryant says having a stove in the apartment isn’t safe for someone with memory loss. He says he will refuse a stove in his apartment, which would leave him to fend for himself without proper cooking facilities. An elderly couple in their 80s spoke to the CBC about their concerns, but declined to be named or appear on camera because they fear their living conditions could worsen. The couple moved into the building a few years ago because of the community environment where like-minded people can interact, eat and enjoy activities together. The sign at the entrance to Drumlin Hills reads “A project of Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizens Homes Inc.” The building was bought by privately held Rosedale Investments Limited this year. (Robert Short/CBC) “We talked to some people just this morning who are afraid they’re just going to be kept out of the building, basically because they can no longer provide for themselves, like shopping, food preparation and stuff like that and I’m going to have to leave,” he said. “We have two tenants who are over 100 years old. I don’t know how they are going to cope,” he added.
Families are worried
Tanya Wentzell of Lunenberg worries about her mother-in-law in Drumlin Hills. He says with the housing crisis, there aren’t many options. A couple in their 80s who lived in Drumlin Hills spoke to the CBC. They refused to appear on camera because they feared their living conditions would worsen. (Robert Short/CBC) “Right now her unit is only equipped with a microwave, refrigerator and sink. So we’re trying to figure it out and we don’t have a lot of time to do it. “We put our family members there thinking it was a permanent place… And now that may not be the case.”
Halifax Harbor Properties
Drumlin Hills owner Rosedale Investments Limited is part of Halifax Harbor Properties and both are owned by Joseph C. Arab. When contacted by CBC, a spokesperson for Halifax Harbor Properties said she was instructed not to comment on the sale. Trustee Rosedale Investments Limited which sent the letters to Drumlin Hills tenants declined to comment on the sale. She said “no comment”, don’t call again and hung up. The landlord was in the news five years ago when a couple looking for an apartment said Arab Brothers, another company owned by Arab, asked them to pay a deposit with their application. The practice is illegal in Nova Scotia.
The Mayor calls on the province to help
Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell said that because the building is multi-unit residential and listed as a private business, there is nothing the city can do to keep the assisted living units as is. With only one other facility in Lunenburg County for the elderly, he says this situation is incredibly troubling. “I don’t know where these people are going to go or what they’re going to do,” said Mitchell, whose father also once lived in Drumlin Hills. Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says it is in the best interest of residents and the province to maintain services at the assisted living units in Drumlin Hills. (Robert Short/CBC) “This is for people who can’t live fully, independently in their own home, and are nowhere near the stage where they should be in long-term care. So this gave them the dignity and independence to live on their own while taking care of their meals and things like that.” Last week, Mitchell sent an email to the province saying they have a role to play and must step in. CBC also reached out to the province. Khalehla Perrault, communications and media relations adviser for Nova Scotia Seniors and Long-term Care, said the building is not licensed or funded by the government, so the department will not take any action.
