Northwood to Add 28 Long-term Care Beds

Twenty-eight seniors in need of long-term care will have a new home in Halifax this summer.

The province has reached an agreement with Northwood to open up 28 new long-term care beds in its Northwood Manor building. Renovations to the facility are about to begin and will be finished in August. These beds are the first of 33 beds announced in January 2004, to help alleviate pressures in Capital Health emergency departments.

"Caring for seniors is a priority of this government, as was clear in the provincial budget," said Health Minister Angus MacIsaac. "This new unit will provide the right level of care to more seniors and help us to balance the needs of our health system."

The new unit will provide residential care, for seniors who need some help with personal care but do not require professional nursing services. A shortage of residential care beds in metro has meant that some seniors who were unable to remain at home ended up in nursing homes, even though they did not require the higher level, and higher cost, service. Adding these 28 residential care beds to the system will change that.

The additional beds will also reduce a backlog in hospital admissions caused by people awaiting a transfer to long-term care. Already pressure on Capital district emergency rooms is easing since 21 long-term care transition beds were opened earlier this month at the QEII Victoria General facility.

Rick Kelly, chief operating officer at Northwood, said he is pleased to be working with the Department of Health to provide residential services to seniors.

"For over 40 years, Northwood has responded to the changing needs of seniors in our community. Whether it's providing affordable housing to those living independently or offering appropriate levels of care to those in need, Northwood has always been there," said Mr. Kelly.

Access to long-term care beds, including residential care beds, will continue to be managed through the Health Department's continuing care single entry access program. Individuals will be assessed by a care co-ordinator and the type of care will depend upon the needs of the individual.

When the 28 residential care beds open, the transitional long- term care unit at the QEII will close. Those seniors will be occupying the existing nursing home beds that will be vacated by people being transferred to the residential care beds.

In 2004-05, $24 million in additional funding has been added for the long-term care sector. This investment will make it possible to: -- fully cover seniors' health care costs in nursing homes, residential care facilities, and community-based options (January 2005); -- make sure seniors will no longer have to sell off any of their assets when applying for long-term care (January 2005); -- address a number of operational pressures, including the need for upgrades and renovations and for more hours of care and training.

"We need to make confident change in the way we offer health care," said Mr. MacIsaac. "We need to respond to community needs in a planned way. We need to make sure that needed community- based services for seniors are available now and in the future."