Manitoulin needs every LTC bed in our communities
To the Expositor:
For anyone who has been involved with long-term care (LTC) on Manitoulin Island over the past years you would have to ponder the wording used by veteran Manitoulin newspaper scribe Tom Sasvari in his headline regarding the recent situation with the Manitoulin Lodge, in Gore Bay. I am particularly referring to what I have to expect was an assumption when insinuating the “gifting of Manitoulin Lodge” by Jarlette Health Services to The Town of Gore Bay. Again, if you are familiar with the operations of the various types of LTC facilities, you would clearly see that this simply a business decision by a private for-profit company. The capital it would take to bring the Lodge up to required standard prior to 2025 simply was not feasible for this company and may have negatively affected their profits and bottom line.
In the editorial of the March 29 edition of the Expositor the writer states that this situation is “sending shock-waves through the West End communities.”
I spent many years working in a municipally-owned and funded LTC facility, Manitoulin Centennial Manor in Little Current. In the Manor’s case, “every” Manitoulin municipality must contribute funding for the Manor. I also served with the CUPE local there and was on negotiating team for the collective agreement and frankly, it was common knowledge that the West End municipalities were constantly complaining and whining about having to support the Manor financially. So now; if the municipal system is the same, then the shoe is on the proverbial other foot.
I would have to ponder whether some of those shockwaves may be Island folk worrying about future tax increases to fund the Lodge.
Firstly, people need to understand that at present just the tip of the baby boomers are hitting the LTC system. When the full brunt hits it will be with hurricane force! The need for LTC beds will rise drastically.
Manitoulin Island needs every LTC bed it can muster.
There is absolutely no chance of the province approving a new 60-bed home. One-hundred beds is now the minimum.
Yes, costs will be involved, new home or renovating old, but people really need to get their priorities straight—if there is one thing worth raising taxes for it’s to have good quality LTC in your community.
My last kick at the can in LTC was serving as president of the board of directors of a local LTC facility. It certainly was an eye-opening experience. From that experience I will say this: you can have the best, newest, up-to-date facility but that means absolutely nothing without having all the staff it takes to operate it and the ability to recruit and retain that staff. In my board position I saw up close and personal the huge cost paid out to agency nursing temp services! It was truly unbelievable!
The moral to that story putting it in context with the Lodge situation is that a strategy for staff recruitment and retention needs to be a key element in this project going forward.
No one wants to think about Island folk having to go to a LTC facility away from Manitoulin. We need all our LTC facilities operating at full capacity, right here at home, including Manitoulin Lodge.
Priorities people, priorities!
Greg Young
Retired longstanding PSW
Wikwemikong
