(Toronto) Kitchener-Waterloo MPP, Elizabeth Witmer, raised the growing concerns of seniors and their families in this province that the needs of seniors are not being addressed. Witmer questioned the effectiveness of the McGuinty government’s Aging at Home Strategy as the wait lists for long-term care beds and community care support increase.
She specifically referred to the case of Louise Millar, a 69-year-old woman from Kitchener-Waterloo, who suffered an aneurysm. Although Millar has been ready to be released from the hospital, her family was told after waiting for 2 months for a long-term care bed, that it well could be 3 to 4 months more, with no guarantee of a bed even that the time. Regretfully, Millar’s situation is common in Ontario, as 26,000 other people are also waiting for a long-term care bed.
Although the McGuinty government’s Aging at Home Strategy (a 4 year, $1.1 billion program) is into its 3rd year, long-term care waiting lists have never been longer. While 12,000 people were waiting for a bed in 2005, currently, 26,000 Ontarians are waiting for a long-term care bed. Additionally, 17.2 percent of hospital beds in Ontario are occupied by alternate level of care patients. These ALC patients are waiting for care in LTC homes or other community support services. Unfortunately, hospitals cannot provide the home-like environment and privacy that patients like Millar deserve.
“Seven years of Liberal inaction has seriously restricted Ontario’s ability to meet the demands of our aging population,” said Witmer. “It’s obvious that the government’s Aging at Home Strategy is not working for them. The McGuinty government must take decisive action to address the needs of our growing senior population in order that they can live with dignity and respect. They must produce a comprehensive plan with benchmarks to reduce the LTC waiting lists of more than 26,000 people and provide the needed community care.”
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For more information contact:
Elizabeth Witmer, MPP
(416) 325-1306