By Patrick Book

SK families worry about level of support at care homes

Apr 23, 2013 | 7:01 AM

More people are joining the call to have the province mandate staff levels at seniors long-term care homes.

Since News Talk Radio reported on about Cindy Klassen's visit to the Legislature two weeks ago, it has spoken to many more families who worry their loved ones are in danger.

They all say there just isn't enough support in those homes to keep residents safe and healthy.

The province doesn't require care homes to have a certain number of staff. They make their own decisions on how many people they need and report those numbers to the health region every three months.

Linda Obrigewitsch says her mother's care home was so short-handed that she was afraid to drink water.

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“She thought if she drank water she’d have to go to the bathroom and there would be nobody around to help her,” she said.

Obregewitsch says her mother's time in a care home saw her forced to use a wheelchair even after it was no longer necessary.

“She improved and her status never did change, she can get up with no problem by herself, she was never re-assessed,” she explained.

Obregewitsch says there weren't enough caregivers to look after the 92 year old's day-to-day needs let alone to regularly assess her condition.

Those conditions have changed since she moved to a new home.

“She has not been in the wheelchair once she washes herself, she dresses herself all by herself – you can see she’s a little independent and she’s feeling a little better,” Obregewitsch explained.

Lana Currie's mother is in a private care home in Emerald Park. She says there are only two staff members on hand to assist residents at any given time.

“Some of the staff are just as frustrated as we are as a family with the low numbers,” she commented.

Currie believes the staff at the care home work hard, but says some have no training whatsoever.

“There has to be certain standards, people can’t just be deciding oh I only have so much money so I’m only going to hire this many staff,” she said.

Currie feels she had no choice but to hire people to stay with her mother during the day.

“Between myself and other family members and two hired companions – we all assist with mom’s quality of life because the care home is falling short,” Currie said.

Both women say increased staffing won't solve all the problems in care homes but they feel it's an absolutely necessary first step.

The health minister isn't considering a move towards mandated staffing levels. Instead he is encouraging health region CEOs to visit facilities and visit with patients more often.

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