Fear has kept residents and workers from voicing out against the decision to close down a local nursing home, says the director of the Ontario Health Coalition.
Around 28 people attended the public meeting at the Lakehead Labour Centre Tuesday to oppose the Northwest Local Health Integration Network decision to close the local interim-care facility on James Street on Oct. 31.
The 65-bed long-term facility opened in 2006 and was intended as a short-term solution. Instead of it’s original run of three years, the facility has operated for six.
But few have spoken publically against the closure because Natalie Mehra, director of Ontario Health Coalition, said residents and workers are afraid to come forward.
“The residents are scared because they're afraid they aren’t going to get good care or will be penalized in some way,” Mehra said. “Workers have the same fears. I think it’s an epidemic across the industry. I don’t think it’s a particular of this home but I have heard people are frightened and they are afraid to come forward.”
There are around 480 seniors waiting to go into long-term care in region. Many are waiting for the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services.
Although 75 supportive housing units will open in 2013, the long-term part of the facility has been delayed until late 2014 or 2015.
Mehra said they are going the wrong way in providing long-term homes to seniors.
“Part of the story here is who made the decision,” she said. “Was it Revera and if so then for what reason? What are they going to do with that land that they got for a very good deal? Who approved this decision given the long wait list for long-term care in this area? Those questions haven’t been answered.”
Around 51 residents occupied the nursing home and since the announcement this summer, about 28 have transitioned to other accommodations while 23 continue to wait.
The end goal, Mehra said is to protect those services for people in Thunder Bay but some political pressure.
She added that the fight is winnable.
An employee at the facility, who felt uncomfortable giving her name to media, spoke at the meeting and said if workers even mention the word ‘closure’ they could be fired.
She said the staff received no input on the decision to close and that residents felt pressured to find a new place.
The situation can be deadly because she said a patient with dementia could seriously harm a caretaker that wasn’t prepared to deal with that.
“What worker wants to put their life on the line for $11,” she said.
Members of the crowd also got a chance to speak.
One woman, who also didn’t give her name, said there were too many unknowns regarding this decision and wanted Thunder Bay’s two area MPPs notified. She said what has happened was an abuse of power.
“It seems illogical, which is why I’m questing who is running this,” she said referring to the LHIN’s handling of the closure.
“There’s a whole pike of myths out there. Bash the myths. Those weren’t extra beds.”
Tbnewswatch.com attempted to contact NWLHIN CEO Laura Kokocinski Tuesday but was unsuccessful.
She said in an earlier interview that the nursing home, although still safe, had run its course.
For information about the closure call Suzanne Pulice with the Thunder Bay Health Coalition at 629-6129 or email her at tbhealthcoalition@yahoo.ca.
