PEIThe executive director of seniors care with Health PEI says finding companies to do the installation work has been more difficult than expected. ‘It’s been challenging to get market response to the tenders that we put out’: seniors care executive directorDanielle Edwards · CBC News · Posted: Jul 07, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoA portable cooler unit in place at the Prince Edward Home. The province has been installing portable AC units and fans in long-term care facilities while work to install permanent AC units continues to be delayed. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)Residents at many of the Island’s public long-term care facilities could be in for a warm summer as delays in getting air conditioning set up continue. Andrew MacDougall, the executive director of seniors care with Health PEI, says finding companies to do the installation work has been more difficult than expected. The province put out tenders to install cooling units at seven facilities back in November. Two newer long-term care locations on the Island are already equipped with air conditioning.MacDougall said contracts have been awarded for four homes — Summerset Manor, Wedgewood Manor, Prince Edward Home and Beach Grove Home — and new tenders have been issued for the remaining facilities. The province is now in the process of scheduling the work, though MacDougall said none of the AC units are installed yet.Andrew MacDougall is the executive director of seniors care with Health PEI. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)”The reality is it’s been a complicated procurement process,” he said. “I think everyone’s well aware that Prince Edward Island’s a booming place. There’s lots of construction, lots of industry going on, and it’s been challenging to get market response to the tenders that we put out.”He said changes in standards for the types of coolants used in the units have also contributed in part to the delays.In the meantime, MacDougall said there’s no “one magic solution” but the province has been installing portable AC units and fans in the facilities, which are also cutting back on the use of what he called “heat-inducing equipment” like ovens and dishwashers.He said staff are keeping a close eye on residents to make sure they’re properly hydrated.”We didn’t want to be here right now having this kind of conversation when we started this process earlier,” he said. “We are here, but we are prepared as well and we’re responding.”MacDougall said the time frame for getting the cooling units installed varies from facility to facility and will depend in part on when contractors are available.Residents, staff struggle with lack of ACWith the Island having dealt with recent heat warnings and humidex values reaching the high 30s, one staff member at a long-term care facility said there is an urgent need for cooling.”It is pretty miserable on the hot days, especially,” said Jeleasa O’Connor, a resident care worker at the Prince Edward Home. “On the really hot days, it’s affecting us. We’re having to take more breaks, definitely getting more water in, more people complaining of headaches and migraines.”Jeleasa O’Connor, a resident care worker at the Prince Edward Home, says hot days can be ‘pretty miserable.’ (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)She said staff have been taking care to make certain residents are hydrated and cool. She added that while there are heat pumps in the facility, their range is small. And residents who have their own portable ACs end up staying in their rooms where things are most comfortable.O’Connor said she expects morale will improve once the facility is properly outfitted.”The heat makes everybody grumpy, staff and residents,” she said.ABOUT THE AUTHORDanielle Edwards is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia. She has previously worked at The Canadian Press in Halifax and the Globe and Mail in Toronto covering a variety of topics. You can reach her at danielle.edwards@cbc.caWith files from Sheehan Desjardins
AC delays at Island long-term care homes continue
