A Nova Scotia woman is concerned about her adult son’s future as institutions for people with developmental disabilities are set to close. Her son, Greg Neil, lives at the Kings County Rehabilitation Centre, which will no longer offer full-time care. Jeanette Yurczyszyn, Greg’s mother, is worried about his long-term care and the uncertainty surrounding the closure of the facility. Community Services Minister Brendan Maguire confirms that all seven institutions for people with developmental disabilities in the province will be closing to ensure individuals have a choice and feel safe during the transitional period.
Greg Neil has been a resident at the Waterville facility for the past four years. His mother describes him as a loving man but explains that she is unable to care for him in the ways he needs, especially when he becomes violent. Greg has Down syndrome, oppositional defiance, ADHD, tendencies of schizophrenia, and is a typical runner, posing a flight risk. Yurczyszyn acknowledges that the environment at the facility is one where Greg feels comfortable, even though he would prefer to be at home. The closure of the facility has left her feeling anxious about the future and her ability to care for her son at home.
The CEO of the Kings County Rehabilitation Centre, Susan Hines-Kennedy, believes that community inclusion for their 150 clients is overdue. While the program that allows clients to stay overnight at the facility will be discontinued, small option homes and social enterprises will be available as part of the transition. The province has been ordered to phase out institutional facilities by 2028 and shift towards smaller, community-based housing options for people with disabilities. The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled in October 2021 that the province’s failure to provide meaningful access to housing services for people with disabilities was a violation of their basic rights.
Community Services Minister Brendan Maguire acknowledges the need to take their time to implement the necessary changes to ensure individuals have choice and feel comfortable during the transition. He does not provide a specific deadline for when these changes will take place but emphasizes the importance of working with each individual to ensure their needs are met. Yurczyszyn expresses concerns about her age and ability to care for her son and stresses the importance of having younger, trained individuals available to provide the necessary care for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The closure of institutions for people with developmental disabilities in Nova Scotia is part of a larger effort to transition towards community-based housing options. The government has until 2028 to implement a remedy following the court’s ruling on access to housing services for people with disabilities. While the closure of these institutions is intended to provide individuals with more choice and independence, families like Yurczyszyn’s are left feeling anxious about the future and their ability to provide care for their loved ones. The transition to smaller, community-based housing options is seen as a positive step towards ensuring the rights and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities in the province.
