Message from Fraser:
Do seniors really matter?
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
The current Liberal government states they value seniors and the services provided by long-term care. Their election platform promised $400 million in order to get the level of service in Ontario to the same level as Saskatchewan in 1999. Sounds good so far.

To date what we have seen from this government contradicts their spoken and written word. We have seen increased accountability from unannounced Ministry inspections to the 1-888-info-line. We can certainly live with these measures. However, are these same measures being applied to our hospitals or other health-care providers? No, they are not. Ontario’s long-term care is already the most prescribed, regulated and accountable sector within health.

More alarming is the reduction of the reimbursement of property taxes. Where providers have been accustomed to receiving 90 per cent reimbursement, instituted by the NDP in 1993, the new government reduced the reimbursement to 73 per cent retroactively to 2003, and to 50 per cent for 2004. For OMNI that equates to $1.2 million in lost revenue.

Similarly, this is the first government to withhold the CMM funding increase that coincides with increased care needs of residents effective April 1, 2004.

At the recent long-term care convention, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, George Smitherman stated that “long term care is an indication of how society treats its seniors.” Let’s review the impact of the decisions made to date to determine whether seniors matter to this government.

These recent decisions will erode the services we provide. This will only serve to dampen the morale of our people, something that we have worked to hard to improve, which will adversely impact on the quality of care.

The state of our homes will steadily diminish, repairs and maintenance will be minimal and furniture replacement will cease. The irony is that our organization was planning three major renovations and multiple enhancements in our other homes – all with the intent of enhancing our residents’ living environment. Does this government really want to send the message that our residents are not worthy of these re-investments?

For more than six years, our organization has been dedicated to a cultural change, which truly believes in people and the difference they can make in the lives of others. We have done this by investing in the education of our people and developing an empowered environment that supports the application of their knowledge. We have taken the following initiatives in the interest of our residents and our people: implemented an enhanced and more dignified incontinence system; Healthy Living, Health Skin; Dining with Care; Multidose Medication System; Supportive Measures that have witnessed a reduction on the reliance of psychotropic medications; and Infection Control. When added up these initiatives are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents and those of our staff. In short, we are enabling our residents to live their best lives.

Further, we produce a monthly newsletter that we send to each of our people at their home, to each of our family members and to all of our competitors and community partners. We do this in the spirit of celebrating the successes of our people and our residents and to serve as an inspiration of what is possible with people.

Recently, we have been asking ourselves ‘Why Bother?’ Why bother trying to create places that value and respect people, take initiatives, or reinvest in our homes when those efforts go unacknowledged? It has taken great energy, resources, commitment and courage to be different and stand for something worthwhile. Why not take the path of least resistance and only do the minimum to get by? Does this government realize how their decisions demoralize and punish organizations like OMNI that stand for hope, purpose and belonging?

This government has some contemplating to do. If seniors matter, they have to make decisions that are based on people, not numbers. They have to make decisions that are supportive of seniors and the care providers that give of themselves every day. Saying seniors and long-term care are priorities is incongruent with reduced funding. Do not let us loose hope and faith in their future.