A long-time advocate in Labrador West for many social issues is frustrated with attempts to get anything moving on housing to allow people to age gracefully.

The recent opening of new long-term care homes in Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander kindled a nerve with Noreen Careen, who commends the province for the new facilities in central Newfoundland but wishes her region were on the list.

She says Newfoundland and Labrador Housing has made great strides in repairing previously boarded-up buildings, but many people in the area need some type of assisted living arrangement and none exists.

Careen says it’s very difficult just to find a homecare worker.

She says some seniors are living in large homes when they shouldn’t be there, however, there are no assisted-living units available in the town much less a long-term care facility.