Increased wait times ahead for long-term care patients in northeastern Ontario

Wait times for long-term care in the northeast are expected to get longer.

With the Lady Isabelle Nursing Home in Trout Creek having their license revoked by the province, the 66 long-term patients currently at the facility will be searching for new homes.

• 'It creates anxiety': Northern Ontario long-term care residents looking for new home
• Ministry shuts down 'Lady Isabelle' nursing home in Trout Creek

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care said these patients will be given "high priority" in their search.

But not every home in the area has the capacity to accept new residents. The province has also ordered theCedarwoodLodge in Sault Ste. Marie not to accept any more patients due to staffing issues.

The other 1,800 people on the waiting listfor the 5,052beds across northeastern Ontario will be essentially bumpedto accommodate those from Lady Isabelle.

Getting more beds a 'no-brainer'

"I think it's a no-brainer, we need more beds," said CandaceChartier, chief executive officer for Ontario Long Term Care Association.

"If we can't add more beds, we're goingto end up with people living in their homes," Chartier said. "Needing more than what home care can deliver."

Current waiting times across the region are 124 days, she said.

Adding to the overcrowding, Chartiersaid that forty per cent of the homes in Ontario need to be redeveloped.

"That means they're over 30 years of age," Chartier said. "The province has a program in place, which is reallyencouraging, but it's alla matterof time."

In the meantime, the 66 patients from Lady Isabelle will still be given care at the facility.

Extra burden onhospitals, says MPP

But Nickel Belt MPP FranceGlinasis concerned about the ripple effect of pushing 66 more people onto an already burdened wait list.

"Our net of last resort, the net that catches us all when a part of our system fails is our hospital," Glinas said.

"So those people will end up being and staying in our hospital causing all of the other problems that our hospitals are facing ... Overcrowding and the long delays and the canceled surgeries."