High levels of stress, anxiety among seniors stripped of services in Bridgewater apartments

Last week, an 84-year-old man in an apartment building for seniors in Bridgewater, N.S., was taken to the hospital after having a mental breakdown, say fellow residents. 

"There's been members of the building who have actually been hospitalized in the mental health unit in the hospital just because of just a total breakdown of stress related to this," confirmed Aaron Kenny, pastor at the Bridgewater Baptist Church, who has been meeting regularly with residents of Drumlin Hills apartments.

Residents in 24 assisted-living units in Drumlin Hills used to receive meals, laundry and tenant assistance. Those services end on Nov. 30 because the current owner has changed the building's business model. Now 18 residents remain, living in fear of what's to come. The rest have moved into homes with their families or even a motel room. 

Drumlin Hills was originally built for seniors by Atlantic Baptist Housing more than 20 years ago, but the cost of maintaining the building it became too high for the non-profit, charitable organization, explained Kenny. Rosedale Investments Ltd. of Halifax bought it earlier this year and announced major changes to the building's operation about three months ago, including a rent hike and reduced services . 

This came as a major shock for residents who moved in thinking it was a secure place to spend their old age. 

"He's removing the services," said Kenny.

Beth Wood, is a concerned community member and part of an ad-hoc group with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada that is trying to find a solution for the seniors.

"...They're all being isolated, eating by themselves out of a bag in their little apartments and I've been told that, like, the depression levels among them are terrible," said Wood.

David George Bryant, 90, lived in Drumlin Hills for the last 10 years and was able to visit his wife in a nearby long-term care home.

His lease covered three meals a day. But last week the building's new management began wrapping breakfast in a paper bag in the evening for residents to eat in their rooms the next morning. 

"I refuse to accept it," said Bryant with his eyes tearing up while standing between his packed belongings.

"I can't live in this building any longer."

His new living space is a medium-sized room and is farther from his wife. He is throwing away many of his belongings, which include a life's worth of photographs and artwork he's cherished since he was a little boy. His new space will not have meals served, will not have a pull cord to call for emergency assistance or the library he enjoys.

It will be much lonelier, but he says it's better than living under the stress he's currently feeling.