(June 21, 2016)<\/p>\n
By: Bill Freeman, Trent Hills Independent<\/p>\n
Norwood \u2013 The provincial government needs to make sure long-term care residents get a minimum of at least four hours of hands-on care a day, says the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC).<\/p>\n
The Coalition\u2019s \u201cIt\u2019s Time to Care\u201d Rocking Chair campaign stopped in Norwood, July 16 to press its case for minimum standards of care in long-term care homes and to advocate for a patient\u2019s right to access a long-term care in the facility of their choice.<\/p>\n
There has been no minimum standard regulations for 20 years, says Peter Boyle a volunteer with the OHC.<\/p>\n
Research indicates patients need at least four hours \u201ctouch time\u201d a day, he says.<\/p>\n
There are 80,000 long-term care patients in Ontario and in the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) which includes Peterborough City and County there are 21,065 people on wait lists, the largest number in all 14 LHINs.<\/p>\n
The wait list to get into a facility near an individual\u2019s home community is just as long, Boyle says.<\/p>\n
\u201c[There has] been a chronic historic waiting list,\u201d he said. \u201cThe government hasn\u2019t taken this on yet and they need to. That number doesn\u2019t resonate I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are \u201cbigger issues looming,\u201d says Boyle, with the baby boomer generation supplanting the war generation population; they will live longer but will have more acute needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople stay in their homes longer. By the time they go to a long-term care home, the acuity of care they need is complex, higher. It\u2019s like an iceberg, you can see the tip of the problem [but] there\u2019s a lot hidden.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe desperately need change,\u201d adds Tom Carruthers, chair of the Advisory Committee of Family Councils, a group that represents family councils at long-term care homes.<\/p>\n
Lack of \u201ctouch time\u201d is the number one issue for members across the province, says Carruthers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo provincial government over the last 20 years has taken this issue on,\u201d says Boyle. \u201cWe need to get the government\u2019s ear on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boyle says it\u2019s \u201cappalling and disrespectful\u201d that residents are not provided \u201cthe care they deserve. The government should be ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n