Premier Jim Prentice announced Friday that the Michener Centre in Red Deer will remain open – reversing a highly controversial decision to shut down the long term care facility.

In an announcement made in Red Deer, Prentice said any residents currently staying at the Michener Centre, would be allowed to remain there.

“All Michener Centre residents will be permitted to live out their remaining years in the place that has long been their home among people whose embrace they have enjoyed for many years,” Prentice said in a press release.

The announcement halted closure of the care home that had been announced by the provincial government on March 11, 2013.

At the time, the province claimed the 125 residents would fare better at home with care workers.

Since that announcement, the province said 46 residents who had lived in the home for some time had been transitioned to community living, and no new admissions had been made to the centre since 2001.

“I think it is inhumane to locate severely disabled Albertans from their homes in the autumn of their lives,” Prentice said.

Friday’s announcement was welcome news for the sister of a resident of Michener Centre – Lee Kvern and a number of families received a letter from the provincial government that said, in part:

“Timelines have been extended to assist individuals and families who require more time or support to plan for transitioning to a community home...” The letter also said that the government remained “steadfast in our belief and commitment to community living and inclusion.”

Kvern said Prentice was very clear that the letter did not reflect the government’s plans.

“We were all in the room with Mr. Prentice and he was very adamant and very direct and the letter is not really reflecting what Mr. Prentice had to say,” Kvern said.

Representatives for the Ministry of Human Services said the letter was sent in error, and that the Associate Minister and Premier had never actually seen it, despite the minister’s signature being on the document.

The residents that have already moved out will have the option to move back in – no new residents will be allowed.

The north wing of the facility will still be closed - the province said it is in poor condition and in desperate need of repairs, so the 13 residents living there will be consolidated to the south wing.

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith