Family member collects 200 signatures in support of OLTCA campaign
Monday, November 20, 2006 -- Natalie Miller
Evelyn Stewart is at it again.

Evelyn, the daughter of a Pleasant Meadow Manor resident, has taken an active role in the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s (OLTCA) current advocacy campaign. During past campaigns, Evelyn hit the pavement in Norwood, soliciting signatures of support from members of the community. This time around, she has collected 200 signatures on a petition that takes issue with the Province’s proposed new Long Term Care Homes Act.

“We’ve had a really good response here,” says Connie about the level of support for the current campaign.

A meeting at the Norwood nursing home drew the most attendees Connie has seen in a long time. “I’ve (received) a lot of positive feedback.”

Connie says the home was approached by a ministerial group who asked for postcards to distribute throughout the church community in Norwood.

So far, Pleasant Meadow has collected about 350 signatures, says Connie. The majority of those postcards were delivered to Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal during a Nov. 10 meeting held at Riverview Manor in Peterborough, one of OMNI’s sister homes.

The OLTCA is asking operators, residents and families to solicit their local MPPs for support in helping secure the future of their long term care home and the care they need.

Under the Act’s proposed limited licensing component, older nursing homes, which account for about half of those in the province, will be given an operating licence that expires in 10 years with no plan for what happens before or after, says the OLTCA. After seven years government can decide to do anything it wants for whatever reason, including close the home and move the beds to another community.

The OLTCA is asking the Province to fix the limited licensing component in this Act and provide funding so older homes can upgrade to provide the comforts, like private and semi-private rooms, available in new and recently rebuilt homes.

Pleasant Meadow Manor opened in 1989. It has private, semi-private and basic four-bed rooms.