Caressant Care selling long-term care and retirement homes: Jarlette Health Care Services will double in size one approved

(Contributed photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

After more than five decades of providing care for seniors Caressant Care is selling its operations to Jarlette.

The two companies announced late Thursday that, pending provincial government approvals, Caressant Care’s homes will transfer to the Jarlette family as owner Jim Lavelle retires after more than five decades in long-term care. Applications have been submitted to the Ministry of Long-Term Care and Ontario Health to transfer Caressant Care’s long-term care bed licences, and to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority to transfer its retirement homes.

The for-profit Caressant Care owns a total of 15 long-term care homes and 10 retirement homes, stretching to Bourget in the east and St. Thomas to the south. President Jim Lavelle made the announcement in a video on the company’s website on Wednesday afternoon.

“We have entered into an agreement with Jarlette…to purchase Caressant Care and we have to go through a process, which is working through now, with the ministry and with the licensing body for retirement homes.”

The company has had purchase offers in the past but Lavelle said Jarlette was simply the best fit.

“We picked Jarlette because, first of all, it is a family business. It started in 1970 by the great-grandfather and transferred to David Jarlette who became president and a year ago Harrison Jarlette took over the presidency…I feel it’s a good fit because they are a good organization, they have a good reputation, they care about the residents which is what we’ve tried to do for all our years in the business.”

Founded in Midland in 1970, the Jarlette Family operates 14 long-term care homes and eight retirement lodges, mostly in rural communities.

“Caressant Care and the Jarlette Family recognize this transition may present challenges for residents and their communities and are working together to ensure it proceeds as smoothly and respectfully as possible,” said a press release.

“Caressant Care will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Long-Term Care, Ontario Health and the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority and maintain full operations at all of its homes throughout the approval process, which includes a public consultation period,” it added.

The company said there will be no disruption to services and no one will be required to move as a result of this transition, and team members’ employment will continue with the Jarlette Family.

“Together, both organizations are confident this new chapter will help ensure high-quality long-term care remains available in these communities for many years to come.”

The for-profit chain started with a 60-bed long-term care home in Woodstock in 1975.

Caressant Care is infamously connected to serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer who was convicted of killing eight long-term care residents while working as a Registered Nurse, seven from it’s home in Woodstock.  Wettlaufer pleaded guilty to all 14 criminal charges - eight counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault. She received eight concurrent life sentences for the murders, ten years for each of the four attempted murder charges and seven years for each of the two aggravated assault charges. All sentences were ordered to be served concurrently and she is not eligible for parole for 25 years, meaning her first parole eligibility date is in 2042.

For more information, visit CaressantCare.com/NextChapter.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as needed.

Lee Griffi worked for Caressant Care for 15 years as Manager of Corporate Communications.