Canadian care-home provider Revera to 'transition out' of managing retirement homes
CBC
Revera, once one of Canada's largest operators of long-term care homes, is rolling out plans to "transition out" of managing retirement homes across the country.
The company informed employees last week that three different Canadian companies will take over management of dozens of Revera retirement homes.
"Revera has made the decision to focus primarily on managing property/real estate and will no longer manage retirement residence operations in Canada," reads an Aug. 2 notice sent to union representatives for Revera workers.
In total, information distributed to unions suggests more than 80 seniors' residences are part of the proposed transfer, with more than half of that number in Ontario. The rest are in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.
The facilities are in Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Ottawa and other cities.
The changes, expected to happen over the coming months, are "subject to customary regulatory approvals, including health authorities' standard due diligence reviews and approvals," the company told CBC News.
"Revera is shifting its focus to ownership of senior living real estate and will transition out of the operational management of retirement residences," the statement said. It said Revera "will maintain ownership of a number of retirement properties."
The company said there will be no changes to staffing at individual sites.
Revera is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, a federal Crown corporation.
A spokesperson for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, the union that represents Revera workers at several retirement homes in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, issued a statement Tuesday.
"While AUPE looks into how contracting out the day-to-day management of these full-service long-term care worksites may impact our members, we will continue to ensure our front-line health care workers have the resources they need from the employer to safely support residents and are treated with the respect they deserve," the union said.
Montreal-based Cogir, which owns hundreds of apartments, rental condos and retirement homes, is set to take over management of more than 60 Revera properties. Revera already has an ownership interest in several of Cogir's properties in Quebec.
Optima Living is slated to take over management of some Alberta and B.C. retirement homes, while Levante Living will manage a dozen Ontario properties.
At the retirement homes now planned for new management, services vary. Seniors pay to rent suites, and some have more minimal supports geared toward independent living.
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