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Vol. 19, No. 6, Thursday, January 4, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
Senior evicted from Beaverhill Lodge before Christmas CAO Bharmal denies rationing, budget problems that resident claimed on social media BY JANA SEMENIUK Chief Administrative Officer for the Lamont County Housing Foundation, Shahad Bharmal, defended his decision to evict former Beaverhill Pioneer Lodge resident Sue Robinson, on Dec. 7 because ‘she did not want to apologize for the incorrect information that she put on social media,’ he said by email. Robinson, 65, posted a scathing review Dec. 5 of the lodge on the Lamont County Housing Foundation social media page critical of the management, food rationing, and what she claims was dishonest advertising around in-house food preparation and fresh baking. Robinson moved into Beaverhill Lodge in May. “Have to get rid of the manager and the dietary supervisor. Only 95% of the food is not homemade. They buy premade food that is full of salt and preservatives. The food has been rationed. Some days the kitchen runs out of food ’cause the dietary supervisor doesn’t order enough food,” said the social media post. “We are just about full of residents. The lodge is broke (money). In the picture below it says that it is tasteful and prepared in house and fresh baking. None of that is true.” Robinson included a screen shot of the lodge’s website containing details around the Beaverhill lodge’s meal descriptions. Robinson said she was called into a meeting two days later with her daughter-in-law Jennifer, CAO Bharmal and lodge manager Kim Desouza. Jennifer said her mother-inlaw was accused of slander and defamation of character. Robinson was asked to make a public apology on social media. She refused, attained a lawyer is now in the process of legal action. Robinson moved out of Beaverhill Lodge Dec. 18.
also get a Robinson banana as a said the dessert, and d r a m a on Sundays began in we are early Oct. allowed with a two strips change in of bacon lodge manwith breakagement fast. If there and the is any left addition of over at the a dietary end, we can supervisor. h a v e Robinson more.” noticed a Robinson decline in said she her own approached health with managean increase ment in in painful gout symp- Sue Robinson, 65, sits in her daughter-in-law's addition to toms. She kitchen in Warburg, Dec. 29, holding her eviction four differnotice from Beaverhill Pioneer Lodge in Lamont. ent board asked to see Robinson posted a negative review of the lodge on members the labels their social media page on Dec. 5 and was given verthe on the food bal notice of her eviction on Dec. 7. Photo: Jana Semeniuk with issue and in the was igkitchen and nored. She said she was told by the was surprised by what she saw. “It’s all pre-packaged food. Pre- dietary supervisor the budget was made full of sodium and preserva- tight and they couldn’t afford certain tives,” she said, adding her original foods. A photo shared with the Lamont application outlined her dietary needs Leader showed a printed sign posted in the lodge that read, ‘Chocolate milk in detail with a limit on sodium. Robinson said she was taking two and buttermilk will be served on gout pills a day to cope with her Fridays only, as it’s considered a spepainful symptoms and could only eat cialty item/treat. Due to changes in the boiled eggs, or toast with peanut butter budget we were able to keep this treat.’ As a result of Robinson’s eviction, and jam. Robinson said she was also becoming concerned with the rationing other residents at the lodge said they are afraid to raise concerns because of food at the Lodge. “When (the dietary supervisor) they have nowhere to go if they are came in, she took away naval oranges, also evicted. Another resident, who grapefruit, and the butter,” said would only speak anonymously, said Robinson, adding that dinners often that she agreed with Robinson. “We seem to be getting a lot of preinclude hotdogs, or soup and sandmade stuff. In their brochure, they wiches. “A lot of people complained about advertise three meals a day, two treats the butter so she brought it back. We and home baking. There is no home
baking here at all,” said the resident, adding that the kitchen runs out of food sometimes. “(They make more) but what I don’t understand is why are you running out in the first place? You know how many people you are feeding.” The resident said a meeting was called in Oct. with the dietary supervisor and a few of the residents to talk about the food concerns. “All we got told is that they're broke. They're running out of money. The kitchen is already running into next year's budget, because they don't have any money left and they have to cut corners somewhere,” said the resident. “I understand food costs have gone up but we pay pretty good money to be here. And I think we should get better food. We don't get enough fruits and vegetables.” CAO Bharmal disagreed: “Food is not rationed. We are trying to curb wastage and monitor food usage,” he said by email. “The new kitchen supervisor, Mrs. Laurie Golish, monitored food wastage and started making changes. Laurie has more than 20 years of experience in kitchen management and is a great advocate of good food and healthy eating for seniors. We have more than 50 residents and we need to provide everyone the first round of food in a timely manner before they can come for the seconds. No one is denied a second helping of food. We also have an alternate meal if a resident does not want to eat the meal prepared for all.” Bharmal added that the lodge is not experiencing any problems with their budget. “Lamont County Housing Foundation is not broke. Continued on Page 14