Premier Horgan recently rescinded the proposed allocation of $789 million to replace the Royal Museum in Victoria. Action for Reform of Residential Care in B.C is asking that these funds be applied to begin the reform of our long-term care system, specifically to build small scale residences that are home-like, support quality of care and promote quality of life. Given the cost of building long-term care homes, the $789 million could finance almost 20 such public facilities, each for 100 people.
COVID-19 has made the public aware of these serious and long-standing issues that contributed to the death of too many care home residents. The Canadian Institute for Health Information reported in March of 2021 that “the proportion of COVID-19 deaths in LTC and retirement home residents in Canada has remained significantly higher than the international average .” Old buildings have contributed to this through overcrowding and poor ventilation, along with lack of PPE.
Many care homes labour under an “institutional” philosophy of care and design, andmany resemble old acute care hospitals. Many residents who lived their adult lives independently at home now reside in a four-bedded room with one shared bathroom. These accommodations offer little room for family to visit, even at the end of life. There may be limited access to outdoor space. There is often little choice about when and what one eats, and many food items are pre-packaged rather than fresh.
There is significant research indicating that small-scale homes, with 10–12 private bedrooms, offer a viable solution for persons living with dementia who need care. Research shows smaller homes had less incidence of COVID than larger, more institutional ones. In the fall of 2020, researchers in Ontario and Quebec conducted a survey of over 3,000 people aged 50–69 years in their provinces to learn how the pandemic had affected their views on long-term care.
Inertia and inaction are our biggest impediments to reform of long term care. B.C.’s long-term care system is failing its elder population. Our current situation is too serious and complex to justify continuing with piece-meal approaches to change. The money is available. We respectfully ask that the Ministry of Health consider championing this proposal.