Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a new Medicare benefit aimed at providing at-home care for seniors. This proposal seeks to expand the coverage of Medicare, which currently only covers hospital services, to include home-based care under specific circumstances. The plan highlights the challenges many families face in providing long-term care and aims to offer a solution within the existing Medicare system.
The Ontario government has allocated over $444,000 to four long-term care homes in Peterborough and Lakefield to support residents with complex needs. The funding will purchase specialized equipment and provide specialized care, aiming to reduce hospital visits and stays.
The Alberta government is facing demands to halt the admission of complex mental health patients into long-term care facilities until the potential risks have been thoroughly evaluated. Concerns have been raised by seniors’ advocates, who allege that mixing patients with vastly different needs at the Carewest Colonel Belcher facility in Calgary has resulted in violent incidents. The board chair of the Friends of Colonel Belcher Society, Charles Hamel, has stated that the facility can no longer be recommended due to the unsafe conditions.
The suspension of admissions at a Peterborough long-term care home has drawn attention to systemic challenges within the sector, according to advocacy groups. Inspections by the Ministry of Long-Term Care revealed improper care, neglect, and staffing issues, pointing to underfunding and a shortage of personal support workers as major concerns. Both the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils (OARC) and Concerned Friends emphasize the need for more proactive inspections and increased funding to address these systemic issues and ensure the well-being of long-term care residents.
The Ontario Long-Term Care Ministry has ordered the cessation of new admissions to St. Joseph’s at Fleming long-term care due to the discovery of non-compliance issues that pose a risk of harm to residents. The ministry’s inspection branch has cited concerns regarding resident care, staffing, and infection prevention and control measures.
The Biden administration has finalized new nursing home staffing rules that will require thousands of facilities to hire more nurses and aides. The rules aim to address staffing shortages that have been linked to poor care and high rates of preventable harm. However, some patient advocates say the rules do not go far enough to ensure high-quality care. The new rules will require most nursing homes to provide an average of at least 3.48 hours of daily care per resident, including at least 0.55 hours of RN care and 2.45 hours from aides. The rules also mandate that an RN must be on duty at all times in case of a patient crisis on weekends or overnight. Nursing homes in rural areas will have longer to comply with the new staffing requirements. The American Health Care Association, which represents the nursing home industry, has called the regulation “an unreasonable standard” that “creates an impossible task for providers” amid a persistent worker shortage. However, labor unions representing nurses have welcomed the rules, calling them a “long-overdue sea change.” Advocates for nursing home residents have been pressing for higher staffing standards for years, and some say the new rules do not go far enough. A CMS-commissioned study found that the quality of care improved with increases of staff up to a level of 4.1 hours per resident per day — nearly a fifth higher than what CMS will require.
Yukon’s Health Minister, Tracy-Anne McPhee, has announced that the plan to establish two long-term care beds at the Watson Lake Hospital is back on track after being put on hold late last year. The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to the project, aiming to provide an additional level of care to the community. Despite previous concerns regarding staffing and support from the municipality, the project is now moving forward with plans to renovate designated hospital rooms and hire necessary staff.
The Biden administration has finalized a new rule mandating minimum staffing levels at nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding. This controversial rule requires at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, including registered nurses and nurse aides. The mandate aims to address chronic understaffing in nursing homes, which can lead to sub-standard care and safety concerns. However, industry representatives have raised concerns about the feasibility of meeting the requirements and the potential for closures. Additionally, some consumer advocates believe the staffing levels do not go far enough and advocate for higher standards.
