The outgoing Senior’s Advocate says Newfoundland and Labrador needs to develop continuum of care legislation like that established in other jurisdictions.

Susan Walsh, who is retiring from the role in May, says Newfoundland and Labrador is one of two provinces in Canada that doesn’t have long-term care legislation, and enshrines the rights of seniors to receive “any level of quality service.”

However, she believes the province is “past talking about long-term care legislation” and needs to move to a continuum of care model like that used in Alberta.

That would cover everything from home support, through restorative care, personal care, and long-term care to palliative care.

“What it would do is, set the law, the legislative standards. So all programs within the continuum, would be set out in the legislation. And then, it would provide authority and responsibility for oversight, and non-compliance would actually have consequences.”