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Last Updated: May 8th, 2008 - 20:33:00
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While St. Michael’s is getting ready to open its new Southgate designated assisted living facility, continuing concerns over seniors care prompted the Lethbridge Friends of Medicare to host Chinook Health CEO Pam Whitnack earlier this week.
One of those concerns is whether facilities and services can meet the demands of an aging and growing population, said Gordon Campbell, president of the Lethbridge Friends of Medicare.
That job will become much easier when the St. Michael’s Southgate facility opens, and other facilities under construction are completed, Whitnack said. Chinook Health does have some acute care beds occupied by seniors awaiting placement in a facility but the problem is not as serious as in other parts of the province.
Other concerns surround what seems to be an increasing number of private operators, which typically add on costs for bathing, medication and laundry service, in the system.
Whitnack said private providers, such as Extendicare and the Edith Cavell Care Centre, do operate in the region but that has been the case for years.
“I don’t have the feeling, particularly in our region, that there’s an increase in private providers,” she said.
More designated assisted living facilities are being planned or are under construction in other parts of the region, including an addition to designated assisted living beds in Pincher Creek and new facilities in Cardston, Taber and Raymond. Chinook Health is partnering with the Good Samaritan Society, St. Michael’s, Extendicare and Choices in Community Living.
“Extraordinary developments are taking place throughout the region in an attempt to avoid what is bordering on a crisis,” Campbell said. “It’s a big job; work has to be done and (Chinook Health is) doing it.”
The concerns Whitnack hears most frequently include whether there’s enough space, whether needed services will be in place and their cost, whether assessments on the type of placement needed are done in an objective fashion and staffing shortages.
The health region hasn’t been immune to pressures for increased staff, such as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and health-care aides.
“We’re doing what we can with the training programs that exist in our city and that’s a real advantage for us,” Whitnack said.
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