Retirement News : Seniors : Long-term care providers tackle pressing issues

Long-term care providers tackle pressing issues

Date Added: 18-06-2005

Region 8 of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors recently gathered in Timmins to bring forth important issues that long-term care facilities are currently facing.

Administration and senior staff from 12 homes in the Near-North Region 8 gathered with OANHSS chair Gail Carlin and CEO Donna Rubin in order to raise concerns and ensure their issues are being heard.
“The main purpose of these meetings is to share all experiences and keep politically abreast,” explained Rubin. “We need these people to keep us advised and informed of their issues. Individual regions sometimes have local issues that we need to be informed about in order to lobby the government in everyone’s favour.”
The meetings occur once per year and also serve as an opportunity to network and build relationships. That way, professionals will feel more comfortable approaching OANHSS representatives throughout the year with rising concerns. They will also feel as much a part of the organization as possible.
Some of the issues raised during this particular meeting were those of waiting lists, the inconvenience of traveling for families, and maintaining young professionals.
“A lot of people feel we don’t have the necessary resources, which is a common sentiment across Ontario,” said Rubin. “There is not enough money in long-term care for what is needed.”
Carlin explained that the provincial average is one registered nurse to 60 residents, and with the complex needs of most of these residents, the long-term care sector needs to secure more funding for more professional staff.
“We need more professional care and more hours of professional care in these homes,” she said.
“We also have a great need for more supportive housing. This would enable seniors to live at home, and remain in the community longer.”
Rubin explained that the provincial government made a commitment for an increase of $6,000 per resident, and although they have seen some augmentation, it has been far from the promised amount. In fact, the government has only provided approximately one quarter of these funds.
“This revolution that was supposed to happen hasn’t,” said Rubin. “If we’re only given money to cover inflation, nothing can change in terms of the quality of care, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”
OANHSS meets regularly with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in order to share their input and suggestions. Rubin said if the sector does not start to see the money, the care of seniors will have to become an election issue.
“A lot of people don’t think about long-term care until they have a loved one in a home and see that they’re only receiving their basic needs,” said Carlin. “For example, almost half the people we serve have some sort of dementia, but we don’t have mental health specialists to tend to their needs. We could be doing a lot more for our seniors, but we need the money to do it.”
And although it’s hard to attract professional staff across the province, Golden Manor administrator and Region 8 chair Heather Bozzer said it’s especially hard here in the North. In fact, the manor has been advertising their need for a dietitian for three years.
There is also an increased shortage of beds across the province, consequently forcing seniors from their communities.

For More Information: http://www.timminstimes.com/story.php?id=167477