Staff and residents of a privately owned nursing home in Stayner, Ontario. We are speaking out about what we call miserable living conditions.
Leaking ceilings, waterlogging from poor plumbing, rotting damaged floors, and an infestation of bed bugs are just a few of the complaints residents and staff report at Huronia Guest Home.
“There are thousands in my room,” said Huronia Guest Home resident Randy McKay. “I couldn’t sleep at night because I was bitten alive, bitten on my legs and arms.”
Staff and residents claim there is no food or just bologna and bread left.
Community members have rallied to donate food to the facility in recent weeks after a social media outcry.
“I don’t even have the words to thank them in this little little town, but they all worked together and now my food is well supplied,” says Candice Moncrieff, cook at Huronia Guest Home. said.
The facility is not considered a licensed nursing home.
In mid-2022, its owners terminated their home health care funding agreement with Simcoe County.
In recent weeks, county and Clearview Township inspectors have been inspecting the home and working with partners to address some issues.
However, Simcoe County said it has no legal or regulatory authority to intervene.
A spokeswoman for the Nursing Homes Regulator, which oversees nursing homes under the Nursing Homes Act, also said it had no authority over the site.
“This is a matter of life, health, safety and cleanliness, a necessity,” said Simcoe County 911 and emergency planning manager Collen Simpson. “We really want these residents to be taken care of in the long and short term.”
Ten staff members who provide 24/7 care say their paychecks are gone. Some are fighting homelessness trying to pay their rent.
“Since December 1st, we have not been paid in full,” said Jody Thorne, Huronia Guest Home Resident Manager. “I received half my salary on December 16th and haven’t received anything since.”
According to a statement by the owners of Huronia Guest Home, released through their attorneys, “Due to financial constraints and lack of funds, Huronia Guest Home is unable to continue its operations. We will not be able to accommodate residents in other living environments. We will be closing as soon as possible.”
The statement added that Huronia Guest Home will also help residents find new homes, but has yet to directly address concerns raised by staff and residents.
Thorne and her staff, meanwhile, said they only heard about the closure through media reports, not directly from the owner.
– Using files from Christian D’Avino on CTV
