Seniors’ Advocate Susan Walsh has released what she’s calling the “roadmap” needed for the province to implement recommendations in the Long-Term and Personal Care Home Review from earlier this year. V
The report; ‘From Review to Action: A Continuum of Care Approach,’ makes 11 recommendations to improve the governance structure the province operates under.
(VOCM News)
The recommendations include; giving the department of seniors more authority by giving it the full responsibility and oversight for the continuum of care for seniors, and the creation of a long-term and personal care home branch within the department focused on monitoring, oversight, inspections, compliance, penalties, and public reporting.
Walsh has also recommended that government create continuum of care legislation that will set legislative standards for all programs.
Walsh says giving the department of seniors full responsibility for continuum of care should be the starting point for government.
She says the department can then move forward on legislation and standards, “and once that governance structure is put in place the rest will fall in place because everyone who is responsible will be held accountable.”
Opposition questions Health Minister on legislation
Meanwhile, in the House of Assembly on Thursday PC leader Tony Wakeham asked Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell about the recommendation on continuum of care legislation.
Wakeham asks if government will commit to keeping the HoA open and introducing the legislation next week.
Minister Howell did not commit to any timelines, but does say work is underway on continuum of care legislation, and draft operational standards for long-term and personal care homes.
