Fraser Wilson will raise concerns about the Province’s plan to limit the duration of older nursing homes’ licences and the increased bureaucracy the new Act would generate.

“It’s really quite disheartening,” says Wilson about the proposed Act.

“We’ll be encouraging them to change the Act so it’s progressive and does better to set us up for the future.”

The Long Term Care Homes Act 2006 or Bill 140 is currently at the second reading stage. According to the Province, the proposed Act promotes zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of long-term care home residents, restricts the use of restraints and makes it mandatory a registered nurse be on duty in the province’s nursing homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also defines licence terms for long-term care homes of up to 25 years and provides the authority to revoke licences in cases of non-compliance.

The proposed Bill 140 has raised a huge concern for long-term care with its limited licencing scheme for homes without any language to address structural renewal.

“The proposed Act is looking to limit the licences of ‘C’ homes to 10 years and ‘B’ homes to 12 years.” Wilson says providers need a commitment for a structural renewal program. “The Act doesn’t address this. We need to see that changed.”

“There’s no addressing the inequity for residents who live in ‘B’ and ‘C’ homes,” says Wilson.

Those living in newer homes have better social/recreational areas, more spacious dining rooms and don’t share bedrooms with two or three other people and a common washroom between them. Yet they all pay the same, says Wilson. “It really calls to question ensuring equity for all.”

At the same time, it creates an uncertainty about the future of these older homes. “There is concern and anxiety among family members, residents and staff.” OMNI’s smaller, rural homes are often if not the biggest, one of the key employers in their respective communities and serve also as social centres. Closing them removes a staple from the community, says Wilson.

The second point Wilson plans to raise is while he had hoped for more progressive changes and an investment in more staff, instead the government is proposing more rules and regulations and the opportunity to introduce more within the Act. “Instead of better compliance” the government’s creating a culture of “fault-finding and micromanagement.”

For instance, any matter of non-compliance, such as spilled coffee on a dining room floor that’s cleaned up 30 seconds later, has to be put in writing. Or, anyone entering the building has to become familiar with the province’s anti-abuse policy, down to a delivery person. “It’s all focused on paper and process.”