Amit Arya is the palliative care lead at Kensington Gardens Long-Term Care Home in Toronto. Samir Sinha is the director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto.
People admitted to LTC homes have an average life expectancy of just 18 months, and require significant around the clock support. So sending someone from hospital to a far away LTC home that likely has empty beds because it already has acquired a reputation for struggling to provide sufficient care will only increase suffering for our most vulnerable. It could even lead to an early death.
So how can we urgently help hospitals, which are backlogged, and also not endanger the lives of some of our most frail and vulnerable?want to receive care in their own homes for as long as possible. More home care services could allow more hospitalized people to return and even remain in their own homes. It would prevent many people from ending up in the hospital in the first place.
Furthermore, the majority of patients waiting in hospital who no longer need to be there are not actually waiting for LTC beds – a significant proportion of these Alternative Level of Care patients are awaiting beds in a rehabilitation unit, palliative care unit, hospice or for home care. So where is the necessary funding and resources for these other essential services?
AmitAryaMD One of the solutions to the hospital crises is HIRE staff full-time - nurses,doctors,support staff - why won’t this provincial government do it. Never mind giving $ to big business, never mind privatization, do it the right way!!
AmitAryaMD Glad we all have noticed Ford attempting to kill all the seniors and save $$ but now - what will we do about it? Please when will we as a whole, act? I will be at any non-violent protest, I will speak up, will you? Where are all of our representatives?
It is first good step. But before they are shipped out wholesale, all LTC homes must be upgraded to standard required for care they deserve. One in there, does not matter how far or close to relatives they are. Relatives can travel as we all are. So get going on renovations.
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