Health minister says long-term care beds are coming as fast as they can

By Gillian Slade on August 22, 2018.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

The minister of health says it is significant that an Oyen couple is separated by 200 kilometres due to care needs.

“I just want to begin by saying how sad it is any time folks have to be separated; that is a significant distance,” said Sarah Hoffman. “I’ve definitely met with a number of folks who are separated sort of 50 kilometres, but 200 kilometres is a significant distance to drive to see your loved one.”

After 54 years of marriage Gary Davis and his wife, who have a home in Oyen, are now living apart. She has been placed by Alberta Health Services in a dementia care home in Medicine Hat. It means a five-hour round trip to visit her.

Oyen’s Big Country Hospital long-term-care unit has 30 beds. While the beds are not specifically designated for dementia care, there are dementia patients and staff who have specialized training in dementia care. There is no space available.

Davis is very pleased with the level of care his wife gets in Medicine Hat but wishes it could be closer to Oyen. He fears, after being married for more than five decades, they will die apart.

The health minister’s focus has been providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Being separated 200 kilometres is not the norm and there are plans to build at least 2,000 long-term-care and dementia care spaces across Alberta, said Hoffman.

That will help others in the future but does not address the circumstances for this couple.

“I definitely appreciate the concern that this gentleman has raised and his desire to spend time with his wife,” said Hoffman. “I think all of us deserve that, and making sure that we’re building spaces in communities where they’re needed, to address this need, is the solution as we continue to move forward.”

How long it will be until a space is available in Oyen is not known. Meanwhile the physical, emotional and financial toll is considerable for Davis.

A spokesperson for AHS told the News that arrangements are being made for Davis to be able to stay with his wife overnight on occasion.

Separating a couple up to 100 kilometres, insisting they take the first available bed, was considered unacceptable in 2013 and abolished.

“Being close to loved ones as we age is very important and we know how difficult it can be for Albertans who are separated from their partners and spouses,” said Hoffman.

Since 2015, people have been allowed to choose their preferred location for placement in a seniors’ home.

The family’s choice of facility is not always available and then they are put on a waiting list for their preferred site, said Katherine Chubbs, AHS chief zone officer for the south zone. AHS works hard to get people back to being as close to home as possible.

“The new policy provides greater choice and a more person-centered process, meaning clients can now choose to wait for a preferred bed, as opposed to having to take the first available bed,” said Hoffman.

The problem for this couple is that it has been months of waiting already with no end in sight.

Ruth Adria of Elder Advocates of Alberta Society called the situation “disgusting” and talked of “outrage” that older people are put in this predicament.

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