Beaver Bank continuing care facility closing in 2023 due to ‘insurmountable’ staffing challenges

Rosecrest Communities has announced it will not renew its contract to provide licensed long-term care beds at Ivy Meadows Continuing Care Community in Beaver Bank by November 30, 2023, resulting in the loss of 38 long-term care beds.

The announcement was made to residents, staff and key stakeholders on Monday. The company stated in a release that the geographic location of Ivy Meadows has resulted in significant staffing challenges that have become “insurmountable.”

“We've been challenged with keeping staffing levels at an appropriate level for a number of years,” said Tracey Tulloch, communications manager for Rosecrest Communities. ” We credit that to the geographic location of The Ivy Meadows, basically making it very difficult to get staff who are interested in working there.”

Rosecrest Communities says the decision to close Ivy Meadows does not impact operations at its other facilities in Lower Sackville and Enfield.

Changes to transit in Beaver Bank in November 2019 saw the elimination of bus service to Ivy Meadows, impacting staff who relied on the transit to work at the facility. Tulloch said the changes played a role in the decision but said the company was facing staffing challenges at Ivy Meadows before the bus route was eliminated.

Staff recruitment a “serious issue”: Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association

Ivy Meadows, formerly known as Scotia Nursing Home, has operated in Beaver Bank for over 50 years. Tulloch says the facility currently has 38 long-term care beds and that the facility will likely transition to maintain staffing for about 28 beds while the decommissioning takes place.

Michele Lowe, Executive Director of the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia told HalifaxToday.ca in an emailed statement that she was not surprised to hear staffing challenges contributed to the decision to close Ivy Meadows in 2023.

“Over the past five years, we have been advocating for better investment in recruitment strategies including higher wages to reflect the value and hard work that long-term care staff bring to the healthcare system in Nova Scotia,” she said. “This issue is not going away.”

Lowe added staff recruitment needs to be given the same attention as physician recruitment and other key roles in acute care. 

“We must respond as an integrated system to ensure there are sufficient staffing levels for all senior care services in Nova Scotia.” 

Rosecrest Communities, which is a division of the Stevens Group of Companies, says there are no plans for the property beyond November 2023. Tulloch acknowledged the situation surrounding the need for long-term care beds in Nova Scotia but said the facility won't be taken over by another company.

“The property is our own, we anticipate maintaining our assets so there won't be another organization that will come in to take over the running of the facility,” Tulloch said. “And we don't necessarily have any plans at this point for the property.”

Tulloch added Nova Scotia Health's continuing care department will work with residents and family members to find new placement for the residents impacted by the closure.