Spousal separation, quality of life for seniors part of N.L. care-home review

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Tom Osborne says the provincial government will undertake acomprehensive review of long-term care and personal care homes in the province, a move critics say is long overdue.

Osborne, announcing the review at Confederation Building on Thursday morning,said it's expected to take six to eight months. The purpose of the review is to improve the quality of life for the residents of care facilities, enhance staff engagement and improve the working lives ofstaff members, he said.

"We'll look at things such as spousal separation. We'll look at best practices outside of the province as well as inside the province," Osborne said.

"This will help transform our personal-care and long-term care to seniors and other individuals who need those supports throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."

Osborne wouldn't saythere are shortcomings in the long-term care and personal-care home system but did say there is room for improvement.

In October, provincialSeniors' Advocate Susan Walsh renewed her push for a complete review of the system, which she called "gut-wrenching" based on some of the stories her office was hearing.

"Seniors do deserve better in their adult life. They've given everything to this province and they deserve better treatment," she said at the time.

Osborne acknowledged the announced review is partly in response to Walsh's recommendation, but added it's "somethingthat government wanted to do in any event."

"This is an important review. It will provide us guidance and advice," he said.

The review panel consists ofDr. Susan Mercer, Eastern Health's clinical chief ofolder adult care;Dr. Janice Keefe, director of the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging and chair of Mount Saint Vincent's department of family studies and gerontology;andKelli O'Brien,president and CEO of theSt. John's Care Group and former vice-president ofWestern Health.

Thatpanel will also invite somebodywith experience in the long-term care and personal-care system to sit on the advisory board.

"I think what we're seeing is the complexity of care is increasing and we really want to know that our staff are prepared for that. I think that ties into some of the staffing issues that we're seeing," Mercer said.

Osborne said the provincial government is looking for waysto address long wait-list times for adults needing long-term care.

"Part of that is looking at the admissions criteria and whether or not there can be an expanded role for personal-care homes in taking some of the less acuteLevel 3 admissions that are currently going to long-term care homes," he said.

"We currently have beds that are available but no staff available to take some individualsin long-term care as we speak. If we improve the quality of work-life for individuals in long-term care they'd be more willing and more focused on working in long-term care."

Long time calling for changes: opposition

PC health critic Paul Dinn said the review should have been done years ago.

"We knew that we had an older population coming, an older demographic, and nothing has been done. You can goback to 2015 and before and there's been reports on this," he said.

"Whenpeople start bringing real problems to the table this government finally reacts. It's heartbreaking. Until I see the final product, I won't be happy."

Interim NDP Leader Jim Dinnsaid, "It's about time," adding his party has been calling for changes to long-term care for some time.

"I can tell you our office, my office in particular, we've been dealing in the last few months with the issues of people fighting to get their loved ones moved into long-term care facilities from an hour and a half away to St. John's," he said.

"Not only look at the staffing issue, but also how do we keep people out of these long-term care homes and keep them independent and living in their own community as long as possible? That's an investment in people that this government needs to realize."

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