Making long-term care homes more 'home-like' among new national recommendations in wake of COVID-19
New national guidelines aimed at improving the quality of life and care for people in nursing homes are now available for public review and feedback.
The release of the recommendations comes as residents face isolation and staff continue to deal with challenges amid outbreaks of COVID-19.
But the proposed guidelines are aimed at making changes beyond the pandemic.
Dr. Samir Sinha, who’s originally from Winnipeg and is now director of geriatrics for Sinai Health in Toronto, said once finalized, the new Long-Term Care Services Standard will be used to assess care homes across the country, including in Manitoba.
“The standard can also become the basis of new legislation, new regulations,” said Dr. Sinha, who’s serving as chair of the technical committee involved in developing the guidelines for the Health Standards Organization.
After public consultations with more than 18,000 Canadians, the new recommendations propose long-term care facilities become more like people’s homes, among several other changes.
“Thousands of Canadians said we want long-term care homes to be like homes, be more home-like and we’re like ‘what does home-like mean to you’ and it was very interesting when you started hearing that further nuance,” Sinha said.
He said the main themes of the new standard reflect what the organization heard from Canadians.
For instance, respondents said when it comes to daily activities they want flexibility, such as breaking down rigid routines related to personal care and mealtimes.
People also said they wanted unrestricted visiting to better enable care home residents to maintain connections, and more activities.
When it comes to their living spaces, participants said low-density structures that are warm and inviting which offer privacy and a personalized living space are all important.
Like nursing homes, the Thorvaldson Care Center’s intermediate care facility in Osborne Village has had to adapt to COVID-19, creating a special room for physically distanced visits.
Despite those challenges, making residents feel like they’re living in a home-like setting remains the goal of the family owned and operated centre.
“The rooms come unfurnished and so the residents here are able to bring in their family members, can bring their own furnishings,” said Jocelyn Thorvaldson, who serves as the centre’s administrator. “So they’re recreating a little piece of the home that they were living in, here.”
When Suzanne Stitt’s now 92-year-old mom Yvette Bonnefoy decided to leave her apartment two years ago, the family found the staff, layout and personalized space at Thorvaldson Care Center to be welcoming.
“Anywhere you go in there, you feel like you’re at home,” Stitt said. “It’s not institutionalized at all.”
Features Stitt hopes her mom would also be able to find in a long-term care home should she ever require an increased level of care.
“I think we would also be looking at something set up similar to where she’s at now,” Stitt said. “It’s just much more comfortable for the residents.”
Reports on the new recommendations noted improvements will require additional funding for wages, equipment, supplies, training for staff and renovating existing or building new infrastructure that can allow residents to have single rooms with private washrooms.
Michelle Porter, director of the University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging, said in an email the categories in the standards document resonate with needed improvements the Centre on Aging heard in consultations it held last fall.
“In particular, the standards involving coordinating and integrating care are crucial, but are often left out in health system planning,” Porter wrote. “This was highlighted in the Stevenson Report on the tragedy that occurred at the Maples Personal Care Home."
A spokesperson for Manitoba Seniors and Long Term Care said the government’s reviewing the draft recommendations as part of work that’s already underway to modernize personal care homes.
You can have your say on the proposed recommendations here.
The public review will remain open until March 27th.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.