Seniors in personal care homes deserve quality care

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/01/2020 (2346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The New Year is a time for new beginnings. It’s also a time for reflection on the past.

For most of us, those memories will involve parents and family members.  

If our parents (or older siblings) have survived into what we call “old age,” chances are they are in a personal care home. While these long-term care facilities are responsible for caring for the elderly, family members need to stay involved to ensure their loved ones are getting the care they were promised — and that government provides adequate funding to deliver that care.

When long-term care homes were established in Manitoba, family members who entrusted their loved ones to institutionalized care felt confident the needs of their elderly relatives would be meet. That confidence has since eroded. There are many reasons for this but the primary one is that funding has not kept pace with an aging population.   

Underfunding is particularly apparent when it comes to the ratio of personal care home staff to residents. Caring for the elderly ranges from dispensing medication to specialized care (such as catheter maintenance) to transporting residents (often in wheelchairs) to meals (where many require assistance) to providing assistance in the bathroom.  

When there are 25 or so residents at a meal and five to seven of them need help eating, a nurse and one or two health care aides have a hard time meeting all their needs.  

Another reason more and better-trained staff is required is that many elderly people coming into care require more assistance than they did in the past. More and more, people are being encouraged to stay in their homes longer (with supports such as home care), so by the time they come into personal care homes their health needs are greater and they require much more assistance than in the past. In some cases, this is due to dementia and related mental health issues. 

These concerns were outlined in a Nov. 23 community forum hosted by Liberal MLAs Jon Gerrard (River Heights) and Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park).

Titled Improving care and preventing tragedies in our personal care homes, the panel consisted of Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres; Michelle Gawronsky, president of the MGEU; Robert Rose Jr.; and Dolores Minkus-Hofley (whose husband has Parkinson’s and lives in a personal care home). Dolores (who is my sister) has become an advocate for improved care at personal care homes throughout the province.

In his remarks, Gerrard stated that it is important that “we, as a society, have adequate plans for seniors care; we must ensure our elders receive the required appropriate, compassionate and safe care they deserve.” 

 If you agree, as I’m sure we all do, let Cameron Friesen, the provincial minister of health, seniors and active living know. 

Email him at minhsal@leg.gov.mb.ca

In the year 2020 and beyond, let’s not forget about  those who cared for us and helped build this city and province, and demand that government invest in the kind of care that offers seniors the dignity they deserve in their final years.  

Donna Minkus is a community correspondent for Charleswood.

Donna Minkus
Charleswood community correspondent

Donna Minkus is a community correspondent for Charleswood.

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