Manitoba Seniors Cannot Wait!
The Long Term & Continuing Care Association (LTCAM) members, are urging all Manitobans, including all
Members of the Legislative Assembly, to combat the critical and
Immediate funding shortfall in long term and continuing care.
Read the Full Report (English)
Manitoba Seniors in care are reliant on us to keep them safe; safe from COVID-19, safe from staffing shortages
that threaten care. But to meet this important commitment we need funding now. In Canada 81%
1 of
deaths due to Covid-19 were of seniors in long term care
1.
Costs to implement and maintain the Public Health Orders and direction from Shared Health/RHAs are
unprecedented. These additional costs have become a crippling concern for our residences. Supportive Housing
residences have the responsibility to provide safe care. However, these new costs are in addition to the
situation of years of funding freezes, no funding for increased supplies around Infection Prevention and Control
and zero annual inflationary operational increases. Government has committed to funding COVID-19 costs for
Personal Care Homes, once reconciliation, adjudication and auditing has taken place, but NOT Supportive Housing.
Unsustainable reductions are being made in significant areas of each Personal Care Home (while they wait for
funding), and Supportive Housing operations to ensure sufficient cash flow is available for other items such as
payroll related items, repairs and maintenance.
We acknowledge that when the pandemic began in March, the Regional Health Authorities together with Shared
Health, created a strong support, education and information hub for long-term care operators. However, the
Manitoba Government and the Regional Health Authorities have not committed to funding any Covid-19 related
incremental costs incurred due to the guidelines, directives and public health orders that we have been mandated
to follow, as other jurisdictions have.
We acknowledge that when the pandemic began in March, the Regional Health Authorities together with Shared
Health, created a strong support, education and information hub for long-term care operators. However, the
Manitoba Government and the Regional Health Authorities have not committed to funding any Covid-19 related
incremental costs incurred due to the guidelines, directives and public health orders that we have been mandated
to follow, as other jurisdictions have.
We are appealing to you, future family members of those in care, and potential future residents in care; in
essence all members of the public in Manitoba, to help us keep Manitoba Seniors in care, safe.
1 While Canada’s overall COVID-19 mortality rate was relatively low compared with
the rates in other OECD countries, it had the highest proportion of deaths occurring in long-term care. LTC
residents accounted for 81% of all reported COVID-19 deaths in Canada, compared with an average of 42% in
other OECD countries (ranging from less than 10% in Slovenia and Hungary to 66% in Spain). Canadian
Institute for Health Information. Pandemic Experience in the Long-Term Care Sector: How Does Canada Compare
With Other Countries?. Ottawa, ON: CIHI; 2020.
For more information, please contact:
Jan Legeros
[email protected]
Or
204-477-9888
1-855-477-9888
About LTCAM
The Long Term & Continuing Care Association of Manitoba (LTCAM) is a not for profit corporation with over
100 members, representing over 5,000 elderly persons across the continuum of care. In 1959, our founding members
consisted of a few “nursing home” owners. Today, we represent non-profit and private retirement residences,
supportive housing and personal care home residences, spanning all regional health authorities across Manitoba.
Our membership has tripled in the last few years and has become much more diverse. The LTCAM has, on its
website, the only navigation tool to help you find the right care or home for your loved one’s needs. Go to
www.roadtocare.ca Our Mission is to engage members and
partners in promoting continuing care living options and services that support the health and well-being of
Manitoba’s seniors.
Read the Full Report (English)