Increased Oversight Required In Long-Term Care Homes

The COVID-19 pandemic has created some troubling insight into the level of care being provided in long-term care homes, particularly those in Ontario and Quebec. Even though the focus of the attention centers around the level of care with regard to the coronavirus, it is also an opportunity for the federal and provincial governments to improve the current practices with respect to oversight. There are not too many people reading this that have not had some family member or friend placed in a long-term care home. As there is always the possibility you can wind up there, is it not in your best interests to push for change? Many elected officials have long questioned the conditions in some homes, usually after some incident that was reported in the media. The grumblings never really evolved to seeing significant change. This is your opportunity, given the attention this is now receiving, to push your local MP and MPP to get changes in how the government provides meaningful oversight of long-term care homes everywhere in Canada. As Canada also has a Minister of Seniors, write to her. Below is my contribution to Minister Deb Schulte, sent to her on April 13^th.

Honourable Deb Schulte                                                       

Minister of Seniors

Dear Minister Schulte

The following is to request your support in advancing more oversight on the level of care provided in long-term care homes. Although this may fall on provincial jurisdiction, I believe your mandate letter as Minister of Seniors may offer you the opportunity to discuss this matter with your colleagues at both the federal and provincial levels. 

Notwithstanding those serious incidents that have surfaced during the current COVID-19 pandemic, there have been other past situations of neglect in some care homes. Many of those Canadians in long-term care homes have no one to advocate for them and remain vulnerable to whatever may happen. Based on personal experience over a three-year period I can state with confidence that there are some very good personal care workers as well as those that are less committed to providing the level of care that may be required, particularly in areas with residents having dementia related issues. I am sure you will agree that they are among the most vulnerable members of our society.

While provincial authorities may conduct compliance inspections it is my understanding they are preplanned, giving the homes time to prepare. If inspections were done on a random and unannounced basis it would place more emphasis on the management of the care home to ensure they were doing what they should be doing. 

Long-term care homes should also be required to have video surveillance, on a 30-day loop, in all common areas where personal privacy is not an issue. That would offer some protection to those living in dementia units in learning what may have happened in certain incidents when there is no other credible explanation.

Over the last few years, I have heard a lot of public officials express concern regarding the conditions in some care facilities. Unfortunately, not much has changed. With your support and that of your colleagues in other related ministries, including Health and Intergovernmental Affairs, you may be able to encourage your provincial counterparts to take a more proactive stance in their oversight of long-term care homes.

Thank you for your assistance in this regard.