SASKATOON – For the second time in less than a week, another health region in Saskatchewan is facing capacity issues.
First it was hospital’s in the Saskatoon Health Region, now Victoria hospital in Prince Albert is full.
Officials say the hospital is dealing not only with an increase in sick patients but also inpatient beds occupied by seniors waiting for spots in long term care.
This, coupled with a report yesterday on the abysmal quality of care seniors in long term facilities are receiving, has Dr. Ruben Rajakumar is speaking out.
“This is going to be a long term problem. We have an elderly tsunami” he said.
With 35 years practicing medicine in Saskatchewan, Rajakumar has anticipated senior health care problems.
The province has committed more than $215 million to building the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. Construction is set for 2014, with completion scheduled for late 2016.
Dr. Rajakumar says we need a geriatric hospital.
“I think we need a similar amount of money or more money for a hospital for the elderly” said Rajakumar “We have more elderly people running around in diapers rather than babies.”
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
- ‘She gets to be 10’: Ontario child’s heart donated to girl the same age
- Bird flu risk to humans an ‘enormous concern,’ WHO says. Here’s what to know
- Naloxone-resistant street drug linked to 9 deaths in Eastern Canada seized in Alberta
According to census data, seniors make up 15 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population. Residents in the province also have the greatest chance in the country of living past 100 years of age, with 31 out of every 100 thousand people reaching the one-century milestone.
A review of provincial long term care facilities has uncovered issues of seniors soiling themselves while waiting on assistance and others being bathed only once a week.
The provincial government has set up a $10 million ‘urgent issues’ action fund but there are still other issues to deal with.
“Seniors want to be at home, that’s what they’re telling us. We need to give them that support” said Health Minister Dustin Duncan on Tuesday.
Dr. Rajakumar believes money would be well spent collecting data on what lands a senior in long term care in the first place, followed by intervention of the disease or illness and an effort to keep seniors in their own homes.
Care homes that receive portions of the $10 million in provincial funding s are expected to report back at 60, 90 and 120 days on the results.
Comments