The issue of air conditioning in long-term care homes in the Southern Interior is on the radar of B.C.’s seniors advocate.
Isobel Mackenzie was surprised to learn that additional air conditioners had to be brought in to cool residents’ rooms at Glenmore Lodge in Kelowna earlier this week. The facility, with 118 units, 100 which are publicly funded, opened in 2017.
Castanet was contacted by someone who said the air-conditioning at Glenmore Lodge stopped working on August 7, and claimed that the temperature in some rooms was as high as 30 C.
The operators of the care home, Sienna Seniors Living, responded to our enquiries with this statement.
“Glenmore Lodge has AC throughout common areas of the building. With the unseasonably high temperatures, the team has also deployed additional AC units to ensure a comfortable temperature is maintained in resident rooms. The health and safety of residents and team members are our highest priority. We take daily temperature checks inside the home, and staff monitor residents to ensure they are always comfortable.”
That raises some serious questions for Mackenzie.
