Penticton and South Okanagan

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Lakeside Care Residence

Residents of two long-term care homes in the Okanagan may need to make new living arrangements in the months ahead.

Interior Health recently gave notice effective May 2013 to Brewster Healthcare Group, which operates Westridge Care Residence in Vernon and Lakeside Care Residence in Penticton.

“We have concerns about the ongoing viability of the company operating Westridge and Lakeside, based on what happened at other facilities they owned,” said Roger Parsonage, regional director of health protection for Interior Health.

The residents, mostly seniors, have been fully informed about the situation and are being supported in making arrangements for alternative care.

Interior Health will also continue to monitor the facilities to ensure adequate care is being provided throughout the process.

Lakeside on Warren Avenue in Penticton has 20 beds and offers a wide range of services to seniors facing different challenges as they age.

Westridge has 16 beds and provides similar amenities.

John Brewster, owner of the Kelowna-based healthcare group, confirmed he received the letter from Interior Health in May.

The situation is a disagreement over what he felt Interior Health was able to require from him as an operator, he explained.

“We felt the information they requested from us, was beyond what I was willing to provide,” he said.
Brewster did not elaborate, saying his lawyer has placed a gag order on what he can say.

He has since acted quickly to remedy the situation with little disruption to residents of the homes and staff.

“To keep residents and staff in place we found a buyer for both operations,” he said. “That buyer will take over Oct. 1. This way it works out for everyone.”