After months of scrutiny, Interior Health has withdrawn its administrator from Summerland Seniors Village and allowed the facility to take in new residents.
However, the health authority will continue to provide clinical oversight at the care facility.
“Interior Health is pleased with the progress that has been made to improve the quality of care at Summerland Seniors Village,” said Karen Bloemink, regional director of residential services with the Interior Health Authority.
She added that Interior Health will continue to work with the facility.
“Given the improvements we have seen in the three months since the administrator’s appointment, Interior Health is confident that continued improvements can be achieved,” she said. “We want to thank the administrator, IH’s clinical consultant, Retirement Concepts and Summerland Seniors Village staff for their commitment to improving the quality of care for residents.”
Scott Shearer, general manager of Summerland Seniors Village, said the announcement is positive news for the care facility.
“The site has done a lot of work with staff and with help from the health authority,” he said. “The staff has done a great job.”
The health authority’s clinical consultant will monitor and work with leadership at the care facility. There will be ongoing inspections by Interior Health’s licensing program, weekly meetings with the operator and a follow-up quality review to be conducted in June, 2013.
Bloemink said the review in June will help to determine if the level of oversight at the care facility will change.
The administrator was appointed Jan. 25 to oversee the residential care section at Summerland Seniors Village and to address ongoing concerns.
Interior Health funds 75 of the 80 residential care beds and 18 of the 36 assisted living suites at the facility, which is owned and operated by Retirement Concepts.