Wednesday, October 11, 2006 · Page 11 Redevelop old homes first, long-term care providers say BY DANIEL SCHWAB Some long-term care roviders are questioning he effectiveness of a bill hat claims to improve conitions for their residents. The Long-Term Care omes Act focuses on proecting residents from abuse nd neglect but fails to ddress the redevelopment f older facilities, says Mary ester, the director of comunications and policy evelopment for the Central are Corporation. The corporation owns and perates 65 long-term care omes in the province, ncluding Iler Lodge Long erm Care Centre and ountry Village - The illows in Woodslee. Nester said it is a "glaring oncern" that the proposed egislation contains no govrnment commitment to a apital renewal program that ould help fund the upgradng of older, category B and homes - facilities that xceed the two-bed per ard room standard used in ewer homes. "We're not seeing a realisic vision for category B and homes, where residents re still using four beds in a ard," Nester said. "The esidents of (these) homes re essentially being left ut." Nester said the bulk of the legislation basically reinforces measures that are already in place for many homes, such as limiting the use of restraints and the creation of resident and family councils. If passed, the act would also mandate that a registered nurse be available for work in a long-term care home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Licencing terms would also be defined for homes for up to 25 years. The proposed legislative change is based on the Commitment to Care Report, which gathered hundreds of suggestions in 2004 from operators of Ontario's long-term care homes, residents and their family members. Essex MPP Bruce Crozier said the legislation will most likely go before the House of Commons before Christmas. Judy Wyllie supports Nester's argument. The administrator at Royal Oak Long Term Care Centre in Kingsville said without direct capital support to the province's 350 older B and C homes many residents will suffer. She said if the bill passes, 36,000 residents will continue to be denied the level of care available at newer facilities. "If the big discussion is about dignity, privacy and care, you can't accomplish that with some of these older facilities," she said. On Sept. 29, the province committed to provide $10.35-per-bed-per-day for 20 years to aid in project financing and construction of new beds in Kingston and Hastings County. A similar commitment is now required to rebuild B and C homes, Ontario LongTerm Care Association Executive Director Karen Sullivan said in a media release. "We need the government's commitment to begin the renewal process immediately, otherwise in 10 years we will still be where we are now," She said. K OF C PICKEREL F R E EE ESTIMAT S Call Abe 919-0157 or 325-0733 Use Entrance off Fairview Parking Lot Rear Entrance Holy Name of Jesus Hall Essex · 4:30-7:00 pm Friday, October 13th 1 pc. Fish 2nd Piece of Fish $5.00 Children's Meal (under 10) Hot Dog, Pop & Chips $2.50 Cabbage Rolls $10.00 $7.00 $8.00 TAKE OUTS AVAILABLE 24/7 TOWING 519-776-6481 TIRE & AUTO SERVICE County roads CONT'D FROM PAGE 10 Leamington Mayor John Adams said when the eightto-10-month worker permits come to an end for some of the workers, the town is expecting a new crew in January. "That's when we really have to crack down on bike safety for the migrant workers," he said. Since the program began, Adams said he's noticed workers wearing reflective arm bands and using battery operated red lights on their bikes. HELP US CELEBRATE - OCTOBER 19th Join us on International Credit Union Day for coffee & desserts & find out the difference a credit union can make!