Letters from families - December 2006
Heartbreaking
It is heartbreaking that we, collectively, have so severely marginalized people with disabilities that we not only accept but we actually encourage them being institutionalized for their own sake and supposed safety.
It is heartbreaking that families have been made so afraid of what might happen to their dear loved ones in their home communities that they feel the need to have them isolated and segregated. It is heartbreaking that anyone in Ontario, a person with a disability or a precious elderly citizen, is faced with being institutionalized in a nursing home. Heartbreaking.
We are a wealthy province with amazing resources, both monetary and human. Where on earth are our priorities? Better ways do exist. Each of us has a role to play. We must seek out and listen to our community leaders – and there are many of them - who have found more human ways of supporting vulnerable individuals to live their lives with meaning and purpose right here in our midst.
We must refocus our energies and resources on building communities and community supports and services which nurture one another and keep us together. That is how broken hearts can be mended and we can be made whole.
Maureen Roy
Developmentally disabled are worse off now
I write in response to the letter which speaks to the tragic plight of individuals with developmental disabilities in this province moving from government run institutions into Ontario nursing homes.
Not only are people leaving institutions moving into these less than ideal places, but people who have always lived at home and in the community with aging parents are also forced to make the choice of moving into nursing homes. The government and most Community Living Agencies are not willing or able to support people differently from the status quo of group homes and day programs where there are long waiting lists for people to get in because no other options are available to them. Families are left with little or no choice, especially if they should live in a rural area of this province.
Such is the case in point for my sister who has Cerebral Palsy and too young to be living in a long term care facility for the aged at 51 years old. Two years ago because of health reasons our mother was unable to continue caring for my sister in the family home. Despite the Ministry of Community and Social Services promises to people and their families for the transformation of Developmental Services for better supports and individualized funding to help people have choices and options for community living, they refused to provide help to my sister and our family in our time of need. MCSS refused to provide any additional funding over and above $19,000 a year necessary for my sister to remain in her community, to have a place of her own with 24 hour assistance.
Trying to convince MCSS was a bitter and deeply disappointing process that our local MPP and other families with similar circumstances tried to support us with. In the end the government let us down. I have asked the North East regional office of MCSS to try and help my sister find a way out of the nursing home, but to date we have not heard from them.
My sister is tucked away in an a place out of sight and out of mind, where the elderly and medically ill move in to live for awhile before they pass on. Rarely does she leave the facility. She is totally disconnected and isolated from her community.
Clearly community living is not for all!
Debbie Vernon
Quotes from Families
“This whole thing is so very frightening and there still are so many people who need to have the opportunity to come together to share all their fears when they hear and read these stories. Many families in Durham are beginning to share their awareness of what is happening, their fear is great and we are trying determine how to give voice to this. ”
“Nursing homes were where, your readers may recall, the minister of health promised a revolution in long-term care reform – one that many critics say has never materialized.”
“The reality of having a life in the community and the notion of independent community based services is at risk.”
“There is no common sense to any of this. These rigid systems are completely inflexible and only accountable to themselves. It puts into question the whole idea of family planning in Passports and other vehicles.”
“And by the way, when they say "nursing care" they are actually referring to care provided by personal support workers under the direction of a registered nurse. In some cases, RN's are not even present on site. There is no question that many people are getting more hours of attendant care in their own homes.”
Excerpts from
“Nursing home reforms fail to measure up: critics”
From the Toronto Star, Wednesday October 4, 2006
New legislation designed to protect nursing home residents by introducing whistleblower protection and zero tolerance of abuse is little more than window dressing, critics say.
… The legislation offers protection to whistleblowers, forces homes to have a registered nurse on duty around the clock and mandates surprise annual inspections of homes.
… It would also allow couples to live together in the same long-term care home.
… There will be zero tolerance …of abuse and neglect of residents, Smitherman said.
… We feel very, very confident that the legislation and expectations that we put in place here (are) appropriate to the capacities of the system, Smitherman said, pointing to the Liveral government’s investment in an additional 3,000 long-term care workers.
… He argued that staff should be able to determine whether individuals need extra help.
