The province’s Seniors’ Advocate adamantly opposes the conversion of single occupancy rooms in long-term care homes to double occupancy.
Susan Walsh was responding to a shortage of long term beds in the western region, resulting in plans to convert 15 single occupancy rooms at the Corner Brook Long-Term Care Centre to double.
She says any reduction in the availability of single occupancy rooms in long-term care homes is “a regressive policy approach.”
The Seniors’ Advocate says there are countless research findings documenting the positive impact of living in a single room with a private bathroom including privacy, dignity and infection control as well as patient safety.
Health Minister John Hogan defended the move when questioned in the House of Assembly yesterday.
“It’s not that they will have to go in rooms with double occupancy, they will be given the option to be in a room with another person. As we heard during COVID, if you’re a senior, it can be very lonely times, and you may very well want someone in your room with you. You may very well want your husband or your wife or your partner, you may vert well want your sister, you may very well want your friend, and I think it’s incumbent on us as a government to provide people options rather than dictate ‘you’re going to go in that single room whether you like it or not.'”
Walsh is encouraging Minister Hogan to use the Health Accord, the Seniors’ Advocate’s report ‘What Golden Years?’ and the pending long term care and personal care home review to help inform decisions when it comes to long-term care.
