The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.2005, Síða 28

154
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 59 #4
measures as to how they could help one
another in the event of failure of one of
their Societies. Each Society had been
asked to work under a common umbrella.
The Icelandic Society Board felt their
facility needed another storey to allow for
more single rooms to be added or else a
new facility would have to be built, at a
cost of $6.4 million. They were informed
that funds would not be available. The
Regional Health Board’s position was that
the direction of Long Term Care would be
to provide support the elderly in their own
homes and that the last area of support
would be for facility living. Their three
year plan for long term care facilities
stressed that Care Homes must do more
with less money. A facility like Hofn
would become a Service Provider with res-
idents now coming in directly from hospi-
tals and that Albert Teng would then have
the position of Service Provider.
By 2003 Vancouver Coastal Health
authority presented their plan of Assisted
Living Concept and stated that the
Icelandic Care Home Society could apply,
along with British Columbia Housing and
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to
build 75 to 125 new Independent Living
units which would be available to Seniors
of low or moderate income. As part of the
partnership Hofn Society would provide
the land, B.C. Housing would hold the
mortgage and Vancouver Coastal Health
authority would provide funding for the
services seniors would need.
The Icelandic Care Home Hofn
Society had to go through a great deal of
soul searching and debate regarding this
matter. The Hofn Home faced imminent
closure as it no longer met building codes
and needs of new residents. At a general
meeting of the Hofn Society Board and
members at large it was unanimously
Osier Home Hofn Board Executive 1948
Back row, left to right: Armann Bjornson, Halldor Halldorson, Gunnar Gudmundson, Oli Johnson,
Eric Hall, Einar Harolds.
Front row, left to right: Alice LeMessurier, Dr. P.B. Guttormson, Gudmundur Gislason, Thora Orr.