People packed Grey County Council chambers on Thursday, opposed to the possibility Grey Gables long-term care home in Markdale will close.
Director of Long-Term Care Lynne Johnson recommends Grey Gables in Markdale and Rockwood Terrace in Durham amalgamate into a new facility in Durham. Grey Gables would be put up for sale as private assisted living facility.
Shelly Publuske has worked at Grey Gables as a personal support worker for 12 years. She does not want Grey Gables to close and force her to work in Durham.
"It would affect my life drastically. The travelling, it would be a very long drive. Winter, the roads are terrible. And I want to keep Grey Gables in Markdale," says Publuske.
People in the area with family members at Grey Gables also don't want to have to travel farther to Durham to visit their loved ones.
Johnson says combining Grey Gables and Rockwood would create savings in staffing and equipment, but would not compromise care.
"It most definitely translates into better quality care that we can provide now and into the future to meet the needs of seniors," says Johnson.
Johnson adds Durham is better place for a new facility because the seniors population is growing faster than Markdale. As well, she says, the Durham site is better suited to accommodate a larger building.
Grey County Council deferred a decision on the recommendations until May 11. There are meetings for public input planned. They're in Durham March 30 and Markdale March 31.