Seniors in Bridgewater apartment building fear they're being pushed out

Ninety-year-old David George Bryant moved into Drumlin Hills in the Town of Bridgewater, N.S., nearly a decade ago because his memory was failing.

He and his wife would burn their dinners after forgetting them on the stove. 

So Bryant chose an assisted-living suite at Drumlin Hills while his wife moved into a nearby long-term care home. This way, he could visit her three times a week and still have food and housekeeping services in his apartment. 

Now Bryant, along with others in assisted-living are worried about their futures. Last week, they received notice from Rosedale Investments Limited — the company that bought the building this year — that three daily meals, weekly housekeeping and assistance from staff will stop on Nov. 30 and will no longer be included in their leases. 

Many seniors in the building fear they're being pushed out because they cannot cope on their own.

Drumlin Hills was originally built by Atlantic Baptist Housing more than 20 years ago. It's now privately owned and receives no government funding.

"The change is coming so suddenly ... and change is not a good thing" for seniors, says Bryant. 

The building has 24 assisted-care units in which residents get help with meals, laundry and cleaning. There are also 72 independent living units that allow seniors to downsize from their homes while doing their own cooking. 

Bryant says tenants were unexpectedly given forms asking them to agree to new leases last week.

"I've got too many people coming at me with a form saying fill it out, you're going here next, or you're going to do this next. I want to know, what is next? What am I getting into?" he said.

The monthly rent has been reduced but so have the services. The letter states "rent will now include a stove and a dishwasher. Units will be converted with the new appliances as they become vacant. Tenants will either be moved to completed units or have work done to their current unit. Alternatively, you could have a toaster oven added to your current unit (not a dishwasher and oven) and opt out of the enriched services on September 1, 2022."

Bryant says having a stove in the apartment is unsafe for someone with memory loss. He says he will refuse a stove in his apartment, which would leave him to fend for himself without adequate cooking facilities.

An elderly couple in their 80s spoke to CBC about their worries, but refused to be named or appear on camera because they fear living conditions could be made worse for them.

The couple moved into the building a few years ago because of the community environment where like-minded people can interact, eat and enjoy activities together.