Creekside Support Service Ltd

The History of Creekside Support Services at Creek Side Condominiums

Program History

Creek Side Apartment Condominiums are made up with one 38 unit and two 46 unit buildings. They are located on the old Gainer’s meat packing plant site at 96 street and 79 avenue. The building contractor is Christenson Development Ltd. They have been in the construction business for many years. There are also 40 townhouses built on the site. Construction on the project began in the summer of 1996. The townhouses were started first. Construction of the apartment condominium started in January 1997 with projected completion in August 1997. The second building was started in the spring of 1998 and the third completed in 2000.

The Apartment Condominiums

The building amenities include: party/meeting rooms, exercise rooms, office space and underground parking. The developer has also made every effort to incorporate features that make it more accessible for persons who use a wheelchair. These include: wheelchair wheel wash, power doors, lowered mail boxes and intercoms, wide hallways, bright lighting and wide parking stalls.
The developer gave each of the purchasers the opportunity to make design changes within their units. At this time there are 15 units that have been adapted to meet the independent living needs of a person with a physical disability. Some of these adaptations include: wheel-in showers, lowered cupboards, lever handled door handle, counter top cutouts, wall oven, level balcony access, lowered light switches, high toilets and other special modifications.
The project is unique in one major way. There is an in-house Support Service Program that is managed by the individuals who use this service within the buildings. This in-house program has been in existence since September 1997.

Creekside Support Service Program

The Creekside Support Service program was developed in the spring of 1997. Because there was no existing entity called Creekside Support Service Program, the group who designed the program convinced the Abby Road Co-Op members to allow funding for the Creekside support service project to go through their bank account. An agreement with the Edmonton Region Capital Health Authority to fund the Creekside program through this arrangement was agreed to. This allowed the Creek Side program to start smoothly with funding that met the budget developed by the Creek Side users. This manner of funding was in existence until February 1, 1999 when Creekside Support Services Ltd. obtained a contract from the Capital Health Authority to manage the program.

At this time there are 15 users on the support service program. The objective of this program is to provide high-quality home making and personal care services that allow these individuals to live as independently as they can within their own homes. The service is available on 24 hour 7 days a week basis. This is an on-call service as well as a prearranged scheduled service. A pager and a cellular phone communication system is used to ensure the users receive fast service when required. There are usually two staff scheduled at one time with more staff on at busy periods of the day.

Creekside Support Services Ltd.

This company was founded in May 1998. It was incorporated as a nonprofit business. This allowed the company to independently negotiate a contract with the Capital Health Authority for funding of the support service program. Negotiations for funding were successfully completed in January 1999.

Funding

Funding of the support service program is based on user hours. The number of hours of individual users is arrived at through a needs assessment completed by an central intake of Alberta Health Services. These hours are the foundation for the amount of funding received. This funding cover wages, mandatory benefits, some office costs and the administration of the program.

Program Management

Management is provided by; a management team made up of 2 members and a paid Coordinator. The coordinator arranges the schedules and staff/member issues. A part time LPN provides a higher level of health services as well training new staff for their job duties.