Long-term care association pushes for increased provincial funding

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This article was published 26/06/2023 (1191 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CLAIMING a “shameful history of chronic inadequate underfunding,” an association of non-profit long-term care homes has launched a petition calling on the province to increase its support for seniors in care.

The Manitoba Association of Residential & Community Care Homes for the Elderly serves 27 mostly faith-based facilities. Altogether, they have more than 3,100 beds, about 2,400 residents in independent living and supportive housing, and approximately 5,200 employees.

The petition (http://wfp.to/NVC) is supported by the Catholic Health Association of Manitoba and Interfaith Health Care Association of Manitoba.

“Personal care homes are an essential part of Manitoba’s health-care system, yet they have been chronically underfunded for 15 years,” said Julie Turenne-Maynard, executive director of MARCHE and CHAM.

Although there has been no increase in government funding for personal care homes since 2008, costs have continued to rise for things such as salaries, food, nursing and recreational supplies, laundry and housekeeping office and administration, utilities, taxes and insurance, she said.

At the same time, there is shortage of workers for personal care homes “exacerbated by the rising complexity of care needs of residents,” Turenne-Maynard said, noting there is a rise in the number of residents dealing with some form of dementia.

“There is an increased demand for us to do more with less.”

Along with the day-to-day operating challenges, aging infrastructure of personal care homes also requires immediate attention, according to MARCHE.

“Most of the personal care homes were built 50 to 60 years ago,” Turenne-Maynard said, noting some require upgrades for things such as air conditioning and heating. In some older facilities, residents are living with two, three or four people in one room, with a shared bathroom.

“That’s shameful,” she said, asking who would want to see their loved ones living in that kind of environment.

Also of concern for Turenne-Maynard is the lack of funding for spiritual care.

“Ministering to the whole person, body, mind and spirit, is very important for long-term care,” she said. “I know how big a difference it makes in a resident’s life.”

For her, it’s “very unfortunate” the province doesn’t provide any funding for spiritual care. Some personal care homes fund-raise to provide a chaplain or spiritual care director, while others that are more cash-strapped rely on volunteers.

“Spiritual care is also needed just as much by staff, as was seen during the (COVID-19) pandemic,” Turenne-Maynard said, adding the cost of providing spiritual care is also going up.

In issuing the petition now, the association has its eye on the fall provincial election.

“We see this as something important for all parties to consider,” Turenne-Maynard said, noting seniors are a growing demographic in the province.

“If you don’t address it now, it will be 10 times more challenging 10 years from now, when demand for long-term care will outpace supply.”

Turenne-Maynard said this is about more than politics.

“This is a human issue. We all know that the pandemic shown the light on the inefficiencies and gaps in long-term care, and we need to ensure that our aging members who need additional care will be cared for in homes that have the means to do so,” she said.

“The sustainability of long-term care system is in jeopardy, and we don’t want anyone to forget it. It’s important for everyone, individuals and political parties, to work with us to address the long-term care needs and together come up with a plan that will effect positive, sustainable change.”

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