Laura Brown
CTV News Atlantic Journalist Follow |Contact Updated Sept. 4, 2024 6:53 p.m. ADT Published Sept. 1, 2024 1:12 p.m. ADT |
The waitlist of New Brunswickers looking for a nursing home bed has grown by over 200 people since January, including an increase of over 100 waiting in hospital, according to numbers provided by the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.
In January, the waitlist was 901, with 421 waiting in hospital. In July, the list was 1,106, with 535 in hospital. The longer you languish in a hospital bed, your health condition changes, but they're just not listening. And I'm not so sure that, you know, the numbers are going to be lower again in August,” said coalition executive director Cecile Cassista.
Horizon Health’s CEO said in August that 35 per cent of hospital beds were being used by alternate level of care patients. Most are waiting for long-term care but are not safe to return home.
Hospital capacity also remains high, the health network said Friday.
Cassista says she’s getting more and more calls from families, looking for help and guidance.
“They’re frustrated. They want to get their loved ones out of the hospital setting, but it's not working. And so we've been pushing for home care, and that's what should be happening. We should be actually concentrating and having home care in the community so that, you know, the loved ones can be close to their friends and family,” Cassita said.
She’d also like to see the assessment process for seniors in hospital improved to help shorten their hospital stay. The coalition has been asking for the process to be considered under health, rather than social development.
“We're the only province that falls under social development. So the process to get someone assessed is done by the hospital doctors, extramural discharge planning, and then the file goes over to social development, which takes months,” Cassita said.
Seniors’ advocate Kelly Lamrock released a report investigating senior care in N.B. in March, called ‘What we all want.’ It outlined why an overhaul is needed to ensure the safety and viability of the province’s long-term care system, and warned if urgent action isn’t taken, the cost to people’s health and the bottom line would continue to spiral.
One of the recommendations in the report was to come up with a plan to accelerate the movement of alternate level care patients out of hospital and into long-term care by June.
Six months later, Lamrock says nothing’s been done on that specific recommendation and the numbers are moving in the wrong direction. He said he believes the issue, if improved, could have a real impact on other areas of concern within healthcare.
“You really can't be serious about fixing the health care system until you address how many beds are currently occupied by people who should be in long term care,” Lamrock said. “That's why there are people in hallways who need urgent care. That's why the wait times are high. That's why professionals are getting older, right? That's a big part of why it is driving additional costs, like having to see nurses on such an urgent basis. You wind up overpaying for traveling nurses.
The coalition expects waitlist numbers for August to be released next week.
In January, the waitlist was 901, with 421 waiting in hospital. In July, the list was 1,106, with 535 in hospital. The longer you languish in a hospital bed, your health condition changes, but they're just not listening. And I'm not so sure that, you know, the numbers are going to be lower again in August,” said coalition executive director Cecile Cassista.
Horizon Health’s CEO said in August that 35 per cent of hospital beds were being used by alternate level of care patients. Most are waiting for long-term care but are not safe to return home.
Hospital capacity also remains high, the health network said Friday.
Cassista says she’s getting more and more calls from families, looking for help and guidance.
“They’re frustrated. They want to get their loved ones out of the hospital setting, but it's not working. And so we've been pushing for home care, and that's what should be happening. We should be actually concentrating and having home care in the community so that, you know, the loved ones can be close to their friends and family,” Cassita said.
She’d also like to see the assessment process for seniors in hospital improved to help shorten their hospital stay. The coalition has been asking for the process to be considered under health, rather than social development.
“We're the only province that falls under social development. So the process to get someone assessed is done by the hospital doctors, extramural discharge planning, and then the file goes over to social development, which takes months,” Cassita said.
Seniors’ advocate Kelly Lamrock released a report investigating senior care in N.B. in March, called ‘What we all want.’ It outlined why an overhaul is needed to ensure the safety and viability of the province’s long-term care system, and warned if urgent action isn’t taken, the cost to people’s health and the bottom line would continue to spiral.
One of the recommendations in the report was to come up with a plan to accelerate the movement of alternate level care patients out of hospital and into long-term care by June.
Six months later, Lamrock says nothing’s been done on that specific recommendation and the numbers are moving in the wrong direction. He said he believes the issue, if improved, could have a real impact on other areas of concern within healthcare.
“You really can't be serious about fixing the health care system until you address how many beds are currently occupied by people who should be in long term care,” Lamrock said. “That's why there are people in hallways who need urgent care. That's why the wait times are high. That's why professionals are getting older, right? That's a big part of why it is driving additional costs, like having to see nurses on such an urgent basis. You wind up overpaying for traveling nurses.
The coalition expects waitlist numbers for August to be released next week.
Cecile Cassista is the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights. Image: Submitted/Town of Riverview
A New Brunswick seniors’ advocate is welcoming this week’s report into the province’s long-term care system.
Cecile Cassista is the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.
Cassista said the nearly 200-page report echoes everything her group has been saying for many years.
“I really think that it’s very significant. It touches on all of the key points that impact many seniors, many individuals living in these care facilities,” Cassista said in an interview.
Wednesday’s report from Kelly Lamrock, the province’s seniors’ advocate, has been in the making for more than a year.
Lamrock said New Brunswickers will not feel safe relying on the long-term care system unless urgent government action is taken.
“We heard loud and clear that New Brunswickers want to feel they can trust that the necessary support will be there when we need help caring for ourselves. We also heard loud and clear that the trust is not yet there,” he said.
“There are good people providing long-term care, but the system that supports, encourages and funds their work is not yet there.”
The report identified seven areas that the government needs to take immediate action and listed dozens of recommendations.
Cassista said one of the areas that really stands out for her relates to the long-term care assessment process.
“We’ve been asking for that to be streamlined for a long time so that people can be allocated or placed in homes of their choice so that they can continue to have a quality of life.
Cassista said this is one of the most comprehensive reports on long-term care that she has seen in her 20 years of advocating for change.
As for what happens next, she said it will be up to the government to decide what to do.
“It’s going to have to be the willingness of the government of the day or future governments that are going to have to move forward on these items,” said Cassista.
The province declined to comment on the report Wednesday, saying it still needed time to review it.
A New Brunswick seniors’ advocate is welcoming this week’s report into the province’s long-term care system.
Cecile Cassista is the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.
Cassista said the nearly 200-page report echoes everything her group has been saying for many years.
“I really think that it’s very significant. It touches on all of the key points that impact many seniors, many individuals living in these care facilities,” Cassista said in an interview.
Wednesday’s report from Kelly Lamrock, the province’s seniors’ advocate, has been in the making for more than a year.
Lamrock said New Brunswickers will not feel safe relying on the long-term care system unless urgent government action is taken.
“We heard loud and clear that New Brunswickers want to feel they can trust that the necessary support will be there when we need help caring for ourselves. We also heard loud and clear that the trust is not yet there,” he said.
“There are good people providing long-term care, but the system that supports, encourages and funds their work is not yet there.”
The report identified seven areas that the government needs to take immediate action and listed dozens of recommendations.
Cassista said one of the areas that really stands out for her relates to the long-term care assessment process.
“We’ve been asking for that to be streamlined for a long time so that people can be allocated or placed in homes of their choice so that they can continue to have a quality of life.
Cassista said this is one of the most comprehensive reports on long-term care that she has seen in her 20 years of advocating for change.
As for what happens next, she said it will be up to the government to decide what to do.
“It’s going to have to be the willingness of the government of the day or future governments that are going to have to move forward on these items,” said Cassista.
The province declined to comment on the report Wednesday, saying it still needed time to review it.
Moncton, NB, Canada / 91.9 The Bend
Regis Phillips
Nov 23, 2023 | 6:19 AM
Regis Phillips
Nov 23, 2023 | 6:19 AM
A New Brunswick seniors advocate says she thinks more can be done to help seniors in the province.
The provincial government announced Tuesday that it will implement affordability measures to help residents with financial issues.
“I would’ve liked the government to be much more aggressive and take off the heating tax we have on our heating bills for seniors living at home,” said Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.
“I don’t know why the government fails to recognize the work we’ve been doing for the last 20 years; they just seem to nickel and dime us.”
“Whenever money comes in to help the aging population, we welcome it. However, a $200 increase will not benefit all the seniors; only those on OAS (Old Age Security) will receive the increased supplements,” continued Cassista.
The provincial government announced Tuesday that it will implement affordability measures to help residents with financial issues.
“I would’ve liked the government to be much more aggressive and take off the heating tax we have on our heating bills for seniors living at home,” said Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.
“I don’t know why the government fails to recognize the work we’ve been doing for the last 20 years; they just seem to nickel and dime us.”
- A $200 Low-Income Seniors’ Affordability Supplement to recipients of the Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit for the year. This supplement, in addition to the existing $400 Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit, will remain in place until the Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit is permanently increased to $600
- Effective January, a policy change for spousal contributions to facility-based care ensures that at least 60 percent of the household income remains with the spouse at home.
- Effective in February, a monthly $200 household supplement for social assistance recipients and youth engagement services recipients to help with the rising cost of food and shelter.
“Whenever money comes in to help the aging population, we welcome it. However, a $200 increase will not benefit all the seniors; only those on OAS (Old Age Security) will receive the increased supplements,” continued Cassista.
New RSV vaccine for seniors not covered in New Brunswick Seniors Advocate Cecile Cassista calls decision 'disheartening'
Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Oct 23, 2023 6:36 PM ADT
Arexvy, the vaccine manufactured by GSK, was approved by Health Canada in August for people aged 60 and older, and costs an estimated $270 per dose in New Brunswick. (Submitted by GSK)
New Brunswick's RSV season is underway with 11 confirmed cases so far, but any seniors interested in getting the new vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus will have to pay for it themselves.
Meanwhile, no decision has been made yet on the use of a new antibody injection to protect babies from serious illness caused by the virus.
And there's still no word on whether the province will make RSV a reportable disease, like COVID-19 and the flu.
Last fall and winter, New Brunswick recorded more than 1,500 RSV cases — the highest number in at least a decade.
The Department of Health is aware Health Canada approved Arexvy — the first RSV vaccine for people aged 60 and older — in August, said spokesperson Sean Hatchard.
"However, at this time, New Brunswick will not be providing a publicly funded RSV vaccine," he confirmed in an emailed statement.
Seniors 'really concerned'That's "not acceptable," according to Cecile Cassista, the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights.
She wrote to Health Minister Bruce Fitch, deputy minister Eric Beaulieu and Kathy Bockus, the minister responsible for seniors, last week, calling on the province to fund the vaccine, after hearing from a number of seniors who are "really concerned they can't afford to pay" the estimated $270.
"Let's not wait until this virus takes control like COVID did. This government needs to take the lead," Cassista wrote on Oct. 16.
Cecile Cassista of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights says many seniors are already cutting back on their prescription medications because they can't afford the increased cost of living. \ (Submitted by Cecile Cassista)RSV is a common respiratory virus most children contract by the age of two. It causes a mild cold-like illness for most people but can be severe for people aged 65 and older, infants and people who are immunocompromised, according to Health Canada. It can result in hospitalization and even death.
"This is a highly contagious respiratory disease, and I really think that every step the government [can] take to prevent our aging population from being ill from this is highly important," said Cassista.
As it stands, most provinces are not covering the cost, although Ontario is providing the vaccine free-of-charge in congregate living settings such as long-term care homes.
I think they need to go back to the drawing board and certainly revisit this situation.- Cecile Cassista, Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' RightsStill, Cassista said it's "disheartening" to hear New Brunswick is not going to be more proactive, particularly since it ranks among the best in the country for its influenza vaccine program.
New Brunswick provides a high-dose flu shot, designed to give seniors a stronger immune response, and better protection against the flu, free of charge to those aged 65 or older.
"I think they need to go back to the drawing board and certainly revisit this situation," said Cassista.
At the very least, she argues, the province should cover the cost for seniors with respiratory problems.
Awaiting NACI recommendationsThe National Advisory Committee on Immunization, known as NACI, has not yet issued its recommendations for the RSV vaccine, Hatchard, of the Health Department, noted.
"Once we review these recommendations and other information, we will have an opportunity to revisit the decision," he said.
New Brunswick is also awaiting NACI guidance on nirsevimab, a drug approved by Health Canada in April for newborns and infants during their first RSV season, and for children up to two years of age if they are at risk of serious infection.
Nirsevimab, also known by the brand name Beyfortus, is not a vaccine, but is given by one injection.
"At this time, no decision has been made on the use of nirsevimab in New Brunswick," said Hatchard. "NACI guidance for nirsevimab is only expected to be published in August 2024."
New Brunswick does offer palivizumab, another antibody drug injection, also known by the brand name Synagis, to infants at high-risk for RSV infection, based on provincial guidelines and NACI guidance, said Hatchard. NACI does not recommend palivizumab for healthy babies.
Palivizumab has to be injected about once a month — up to four times — during RSV season to remain effective.
Monitoring RSV closelyThe Department of Health will be monitoring the RSV situation "closely," said Hatchard.
Infectious disease experts have said the surge in RSV cases last fall and winter was due in part to the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as masking and distancing, which had prevented infections in the previous years, so many children were exposed to RSV for the first time.
Eleven New Brunswickers have tested positive since the respiratory season began on Aug. 27, including one during the week ending Oct. 7, according to the latest figures posted by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Ages, hospitalizations, deaths not reportedNearly a year ago, Dr. Yves Léger, then-acting chief medical officer of health, said Public Health would look "in the near future" into whether RSV should become a reportable disease in the province.
Although RSV is a reportable disease in some other provinces, such as P.E.I., it's not in New Brunswick. That means it's not monitored or communicated to the public in the same way as a reportable disease, such as COVID-19 or the flu, with weekly reports.
The province currently simply inputs RSV test data into the national surveillance system weekly. No information about RSV-related hospitalizations or deaths, or breakdowns by ages are available.
During a November media briefing on RSV, COVID-19 and the flu, and their impact on the hospital system, Léger told reporters, "we'll certainly be looking at that in the near future to see if we should be considering adding that in."
The Department of Health is "in the process of conducting a review" of the Public Health Act and its regulations, according to Hatchard.
He did not respond to questions about when the review began or why it has taken this long.
"We will be able to share details of the review, including any changes to reportable diseases, once it is finalized," he said. He declined to provide an estimate of when that might be.
Symptoms to watch for
In Canada, the RSV season typically begins in October or November and lasts until April or May.
Symptoms often begin two to eight days after exposure to the virus and may include:
Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Oct 23, 2023 6:36 PM ADT
Arexvy, the vaccine manufactured by GSK, was approved by Health Canada in August for people aged 60 and older, and costs an estimated $270 per dose in New Brunswick. (Submitted by GSK)
New Brunswick's RSV season is underway with 11 confirmed cases so far, but any seniors interested in getting the new vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus will have to pay for it themselves.
Meanwhile, no decision has been made yet on the use of a new antibody injection to protect babies from serious illness caused by the virus.
And there's still no word on whether the province will make RSV a reportable disease, like COVID-19 and the flu.
Last fall and winter, New Brunswick recorded more than 1,500 RSV cases — the highest number in at least a decade.
The Department of Health is aware Health Canada approved Arexvy — the first RSV vaccine for people aged 60 and older — in August, said spokesperson Sean Hatchard.
"However, at this time, New Brunswick will not be providing a publicly funded RSV vaccine," he confirmed in an emailed statement.
Seniors 'really concerned'That's "not acceptable," according to Cecile Cassista, the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights.
She wrote to Health Minister Bruce Fitch, deputy minister Eric Beaulieu and Kathy Bockus, the minister responsible for seniors, last week, calling on the province to fund the vaccine, after hearing from a number of seniors who are "really concerned they can't afford to pay" the estimated $270.
"Let's not wait until this virus takes control like COVID did. This government needs to take the lead," Cassista wrote on Oct. 16.
Cecile Cassista of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights says many seniors are already cutting back on their prescription medications because they can't afford the increased cost of living. \ (Submitted by Cecile Cassista)RSV is a common respiratory virus most children contract by the age of two. It causes a mild cold-like illness for most people but can be severe for people aged 65 and older, infants and people who are immunocompromised, according to Health Canada. It can result in hospitalization and even death.
"This is a highly contagious respiratory disease, and I really think that every step the government [can] take to prevent our aging population from being ill from this is highly important," said Cassista.
As it stands, most provinces are not covering the cost, although Ontario is providing the vaccine free-of-charge in congregate living settings such as long-term care homes.
I think they need to go back to the drawing board and certainly revisit this situation.- Cecile Cassista, Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' RightsStill, Cassista said it's "disheartening" to hear New Brunswick is not going to be more proactive, particularly since it ranks among the best in the country for its influenza vaccine program.
New Brunswick provides a high-dose flu shot, designed to give seniors a stronger immune response, and better protection against the flu, free of charge to those aged 65 or older.
"I think they need to go back to the drawing board and certainly revisit this situation," said Cassista.
At the very least, she argues, the province should cover the cost for seniors with respiratory problems.
Awaiting NACI recommendationsThe National Advisory Committee on Immunization, known as NACI, has not yet issued its recommendations for the RSV vaccine, Hatchard, of the Health Department, noted.
"Once we review these recommendations and other information, we will have an opportunity to revisit the decision," he said.
New Brunswick is also awaiting NACI guidance on nirsevimab, a drug approved by Health Canada in April for newborns and infants during their first RSV season, and for children up to two years of age if they are at risk of serious infection.
Nirsevimab, also known by the brand name Beyfortus, is not a vaccine, but is given by one injection.
"At this time, no decision has been made on the use of nirsevimab in New Brunswick," said Hatchard. "NACI guidance for nirsevimab is only expected to be published in August 2024."
New Brunswick does offer palivizumab, another antibody drug injection, also known by the brand name Synagis, to infants at high-risk for RSV infection, based on provincial guidelines and NACI guidance, said Hatchard. NACI does not recommend palivizumab for healthy babies.
Palivizumab has to be injected about once a month — up to four times — during RSV season to remain effective.
Monitoring RSV closelyThe Department of Health will be monitoring the RSV situation "closely," said Hatchard.
Infectious disease experts have said the surge in RSV cases last fall and winter was due in part to the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as masking and distancing, which had prevented infections in the previous years, so many children were exposed to RSV for the first time.
Eleven New Brunswickers have tested positive since the respiratory season began on Aug. 27, including one during the week ending Oct. 7, according to the latest figures posted by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Ages, hospitalizations, deaths not reportedNearly a year ago, Dr. Yves Léger, then-acting chief medical officer of health, said Public Health would look "in the near future" into whether RSV should become a reportable disease in the province.
Although RSV is a reportable disease in some other provinces, such as P.E.I., it's not in New Brunswick. That means it's not monitored or communicated to the public in the same way as a reportable disease, such as COVID-19 or the flu, with weekly reports.
The province currently simply inputs RSV test data into the national surveillance system weekly. No information about RSV-related hospitalizations or deaths, or breakdowns by ages are available.
During a November media briefing on RSV, COVID-19 and the flu, and their impact on the hospital system, Léger told reporters, "we'll certainly be looking at that in the near future to see if we should be considering adding that in."
The Department of Health is "in the process of conducting a review" of the Public Health Act and its regulations, according to Hatchard.
He did not respond to questions about when the review began or why it has taken this long.
"We will be able to share details of the review, including any changes to reportable diseases, once it is finalized," he said. He declined to provide an estimate of when that might be.
Symptoms to watch for
In Canada, the RSV season typically begins in October or November and lasts until April or May.
Symptoms often begin two to eight days after exposure to the virus and may include:
- Runny nose.
- Coughing.
- Sneezing.
- Wheezing.
- Fever.
- Decrease in appetite and energy.
- Irritability.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Decreased appetite or feeding.
- Decreased activity.
N.B. seniors advocate wins national award from nurses union
N.B. seniors advocate wins national award from nurses union | TJ.news
A New Brunswick seniors' advocate has been named a recipient of a national award from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
Cecile Cassista, a Riverview town councillor and founder and executive director of the Coalition for Seniors’ and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, received the Bread & Roses Award.
The award was presented on Thursday by CFNU president Linda Silas at the national organization’s biennial convention. According to the nurses' union, the Bread & Roses Awards are presented each year for contributions to health-care policy and decision-making, and for raising public awareness of nursing issues and patient advocacy.
The nurses union said in a release the award is named in honour of the pioneers in the fight for women’s suffrage and women’s workplace rights and dignity. The phrase is often associated with a textile workers’ strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912, in which the strikers demanded: “Give us bread, but give us roses too.”
Cassista is a "well-known advocate of seniors’ and women’s rights, and a strong voice in the Canadian labour movement," the union said in the release.
“Cecile reminds us of the importance of seniors’ rights. She works hard to ensure that all seniors have access to care by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, and not by under-qualified employees whose work is not regulated,” Silas said. “She is a committed friend of the elderly and our profession.”
Jane Matthews-Clark, spokesperson for the New Brunswick Nurses Union, said that member organizations nominate public members as well as nurse members for the award and there is a committee of the national executive board that vets the nominees. The NBNU Board nominated Cassista.
When accepting the award, Cassista spoke in front of the group of more than 1,000 nurses gathered at the meeting to talk about what the coalition does. In an interview she said she was honoured to receive the award.
"I was in tears," she said. "People are recognizing the work that the coalition is doing."
Cassista said her work and that of the nurses unions go "hand in hand."
"Some of the things that the nurses who work in these facilities are echoing are very much the same as what we do as a coalition," she said.
The nurses are pushing for better working conditions, more staff recruitment and retention, and fewer overtime hours. Cassista said nurses work at special care homes, nursing homes and memory care, as well as caring for patients waiting in hospital for long-term care placements.
If there were fewer staffing shortages and if nurses were well-rested it would result in better care for seniors and more open beds in long-term facilities, she said.
The other recipients of the award this year are Cathy Crowe, a Canadian “street nurse" who is best known as an advocate for the homeless, Yvette Coffey, president of the Registered Nurses’ Union of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Darlene Jackson president of the Manitoba Nurses Union and a member of the National Executive Board, and on the board of the Manitoba Federation of Labour
N.B. seniors advocate wins national award from nurses union | TJ.news
A New Brunswick seniors' advocate has been named a recipient of a national award from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
Cecile Cassista, a Riverview town councillor and founder and executive director of the Coalition for Seniors’ and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, received the Bread & Roses Award.
The award was presented on Thursday by CFNU president Linda Silas at the national organization’s biennial convention. According to the nurses' union, the Bread & Roses Awards are presented each year for contributions to health-care policy and decision-making, and for raising public awareness of nursing issues and patient advocacy.
The nurses union said in a release the award is named in honour of the pioneers in the fight for women’s suffrage and women’s workplace rights and dignity. The phrase is often associated with a textile workers’ strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912, in which the strikers demanded: “Give us bread, but give us roses too.”
Cassista is a "well-known advocate of seniors’ and women’s rights, and a strong voice in the Canadian labour movement," the union said in the release.
“Cecile reminds us of the importance of seniors’ rights. She works hard to ensure that all seniors have access to care by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, and not by under-qualified employees whose work is not regulated,” Silas said. “She is a committed friend of the elderly and our profession.”
Jane Matthews-Clark, spokesperson for the New Brunswick Nurses Union, said that member organizations nominate public members as well as nurse members for the award and there is a committee of the national executive board that vets the nominees. The NBNU Board nominated Cassista.
When accepting the award, Cassista spoke in front of the group of more than 1,000 nurses gathered at the meeting to talk about what the coalition does. In an interview she said she was honoured to receive the award.
"I was in tears," she said. "People are recognizing the work that the coalition is doing."
Cassista said her work and that of the nurses unions go "hand in hand."
"Some of the things that the nurses who work in these facilities are echoing are very much the same as what we do as a coalition," she said.
The nurses are pushing for better working conditions, more staff recruitment and retention, and fewer overtime hours. Cassista said nurses work at special care homes, nursing homes and memory care, as well as caring for patients waiting in hospital for long-term care placements.
If there were fewer staffing shortages and if nurses were well-rested it would result in better care for seniors and more open beds in long-term facilities, she said.
The other recipients of the award this year are Cathy Crowe, a Canadian “street nurse" who is best known as an advocate for the homeless, Yvette Coffey, president of the Registered Nurses’ Union of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Darlene Jackson president of the Manitoba Nurses Union and a member of the National Executive Board, and on the board of the Manitoba Federation of Labour
PROVINCE CHANGES NURSING HOME BED PRIORITY PROCESS
Telegraph-Journal January 24, 2023
The Oromocto Public Hospital has many patients waiting for a nursing home
A seniors' advocate is raising concerns after the provincial government quietly took steps to clear elderly patients out of overburdened hospitals and put them in nursing homes during critical periods.
Cecile Cassista, the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, said she knew nothing about the change in regulations made in December until reporters recently drew it to her attention.
“If the government is going to move seniors out of hospital beds, where are they going to put them?” the Riverview advocate said in an interview Tuesday. “We have as many as 277 beds in nursing homes across the province that can’t be used because there’s a severe staff shortage. We don’t have the people available to take care of seniors most in need."
She said the latest statistics from last month showed there were 444 elderly patients in New Brunswick’s hospitals waiting for a nursing home bed. These so-called “alternate level of care” patients are too frail to be sent back home but are not sick enough to be in need of an acute-care bed in hospital.
But with no room available in the province’s 71 nursing homes, they stay in hospital, taking beds needed for acute care or surgical patients.
Alternate level of care patients have long been a concern in New Brunswick, which has a much higher proportion in its hospitals than in other provinces. As many as one in four hospital beds are often taken by people who would be better served in a nursing home.
The regulatory move by the Tory government essentially changes who gets first dibs for a nursing home bed. As it stands, elderly people on the wait list are served in chronological order, regardless if they are still at home or in a hospital.
With the change, the government will be able to prioritize those waiting in hospital over those waiting at home.
“As a way to help with the recent challenges multiple sectors are facing, amendments to the general regulation of the Nursing Home Act were proposed to give the minister of Social Development discretion to prioritize the admission of alternative level of care patients waiting in hospital for nursing home placements during exceptional circumstances,” said the department’s spokesperson, Rebecca Howland, in an email. “This would be for a short period of time. This would be enacted when there is an increased potential risk to human life.”
She said the two regional health authorities would have to prove their case if officials felt the situation was critical at one of their hospitals.
They’d have to show that there’s an overcapacity in the emergency room with prolonged off-loading delays from ambulance bays; acute care units are overcapacity; and there is cancellation of critical surgeries.
Howland said that whether it is under exceptional circumstances or not, no change would be made to the requirements that an elderly patient should be put in a nursing home no farther than 100 kilometres from their permanent address and in the language of their choice, French or English.
Cassista predicted the change wouldn’t help the hospitals much, as there’s already a long wait list for beds, 811 people. Of those, 367 are at home and 444 in hospital, as of December.
“The government needs a better retention and recruitment policy in nursing homes, otherwise the staff shortage will never go away,” Cassista said.
The New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes confirmed that the province would not be able to remove elderly patients from hospitals and send them to nursing homes if beds in the long-term facilities were unavailable.
“If the homes are full, they don’t have any room to admit and no patients can come in,” said Julie Weir, the association’s executive director. “The change is all about the wait lists and the prioritization of who gets a bed first.”
She said if every home was fully staffed, their beds would remain full, with the only openings available when a client passes away.
“Nursing homes are not like hospitals, which are under more pressure to accept patients and find a place for them,” Weir said. “At a hospital, if the emergency department is full, they try to find space for people, wherever. But in the nursing homes, it’s different. The home can only accept the resident if a bed is available, and that’s in legislation.”
Telegraph-Journal January 24, 2023
The Oromocto Public Hospital has many patients waiting for a nursing home
A seniors' advocate is raising concerns after the provincial government quietly took steps to clear elderly patients out of overburdened hospitals and put them in nursing homes during critical periods.
Cecile Cassista, the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, said she knew nothing about the change in regulations made in December until reporters recently drew it to her attention.
“If the government is going to move seniors out of hospital beds, where are they going to put them?” the Riverview advocate said in an interview Tuesday. “We have as many as 277 beds in nursing homes across the province that can’t be used because there’s a severe staff shortage. We don’t have the people available to take care of seniors most in need."
She said the latest statistics from last month showed there were 444 elderly patients in New Brunswick’s hospitals waiting for a nursing home bed. These so-called “alternate level of care” patients are too frail to be sent back home but are not sick enough to be in need of an acute-care bed in hospital.
But with no room available in the province’s 71 nursing homes, they stay in hospital, taking beds needed for acute care or surgical patients.
Alternate level of care patients have long been a concern in New Brunswick, which has a much higher proportion in its hospitals than in other provinces. As many as one in four hospital beds are often taken by people who would be better served in a nursing home.
The regulatory move by the Tory government essentially changes who gets first dibs for a nursing home bed. As it stands, elderly people on the wait list are served in chronological order, regardless if they are still at home or in a hospital.
With the change, the government will be able to prioritize those waiting in hospital over those waiting at home.
“As a way to help with the recent challenges multiple sectors are facing, amendments to the general regulation of the Nursing Home Act were proposed to give the minister of Social Development discretion to prioritize the admission of alternative level of care patients waiting in hospital for nursing home placements during exceptional circumstances,” said the department’s spokesperson, Rebecca Howland, in an email. “This would be for a short period of time. This would be enacted when there is an increased potential risk to human life.”
She said the two regional health authorities would have to prove their case if officials felt the situation was critical at one of their hospitals.
They’d have to show that there’s an overcapacity in the emergency room with prolonged off-loading delays from ambulance bays; acute care units are overcapacity; and there is cancellation of critical surgeries.
Howland said that whether it is under exceptional circumstances or not, no change would be made to the requirements that an elderly patient should be put in a nursing home no farther than 100 kilometres from their permanent address and in the language of their choice, French or English.
Cassista predicted the change wouldn’t help the hospitals much, as there’s already a long wait list for beds, 811 people. Of those, 367 are at home and 444 in hospital, as of December.
“The government needs a better retention and recruitment policy in nursing homes, otherwise the staff shortage will never go away,” Cassista said.
The New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes confirmed that the province would not be able to remove elderly patients from hospitals and send them to nursing homes if beds in the long-term facilities were unavailable.
“If the homes are full, they don’t have any room to admit and no patients can come in,” said Julie Weir, the association’s executive director. “The change is all about the wait lists and the prioritization of who gets a bed first.”
She said if every home was fully staffed, their beds would remain full, with the only openings available when a client passes away.
“Nursing homes are not like hospitals, which are under more pressure to accept patients and find a place for them,” Weir said. “At a hospital, if the emergency department is full, they try to find space for people, wherever. But in the nursing homes, it’s different. The home can only accept the resident if a bed is available, and that’s in legislation.”
