The agency in charge of running long-term care homes in the province has accepted all recommendations from the Auditor General after a report which was highly critical of the ways in which things are being done.
AG Denise Hanrahan’s last report dealt with privately-run homes, but this one focused on government-run facilities such as Pleasantview Towers and St. Luke’s.
She found many deficiencies including a lack of background and vulnerable sector checks, rotting food in fridges, and obstructed hallways and fire exits.
The AG’s findings on missing or outdated vulnerable sector checks in long-term care homes (Office of the Auditor General)
She says one of the more concerning aspects is the food safety component – which stemmed from a 2015 report, where many of the recommendations were not followed.
“Some of the most concerning findings in the food section for me had to do with the swallowing assessments and the fact that there may not be enough staff that are trained to be able to deal with choking situations,” she told reporters.
The AG’s findings on total swallowing assessments not completed in long-term care homes across the province (Office of the Auditor General)
“Certainly those are major requirements in any long-term care facility and when we see that a third of the ones we tested weren’t getting done appropriately or in a timely manner, it’s very concerning.”
According to current projections, about a third of the population will reside in such facilities by 2043.
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services has accepted all 17 recommendations aimed at it while the Department of Seniors has accepted the two recommendations which apply to it.
NDP Leader Wouldn’t Want His Family in Long-Term Care Home Following Report
Jim Dinn, Leader of NDP (VOCM News).
Meanwhile, the Leader of the NDP says he would not put a family member in a long-term care home after reading the report from the Auditor General.
Leader Jim Dinn cited serious concerns raised by the AG over background checks of workers in the facilities.
“It’s one thing if you’re working at a local grocery store. Here, you now have the responsibility of actually caring for people who may not have family, who may not be verbal, and who are definitely vulnerable,” he says.
“You want to make sure you have the highest standard when it comes to their protection. To me, that would have been a priority. That’s got to be fixed.”
The opposition Liberals did not go into detail on the report, but say government needs to follow through on the recommendations by the AG.
