02-04-2025
N.L.'s Seniors' Advocate says she's been hearing 'horrendous' stories of personal care homes for years
While Newfoundland and Labrador's Auditor General says the province's seniors are at risk, Seniors' Advocate Susan Walsh says the findings on personal care homes are unfortunate but not surprising.
Auditor General Denise Hanrahan's latest report cited concerns about the Department of Health and Community Services' management and oversight of personal care homes.
Possible sexual abuse, missing residents and a death caused by errors were among the findings in Hanrahan's audit.
Walsh told CBC Radio's On The Go that families have been pointing out those incidents for years
"In 2022, when I started this job, I was only in three months and the stories I was hearing from families were horrendous," she said.
Tuesday's presentation from the Auditor General came just under two months after the provincial government released a report on long-term and personal care homes, describing the need for a wide range of improvements.
"All these reports are adding up, but it appears no one has the authority or capacity to make the Department of Health and Community Services, the regional health authority, and our health services actually make the change," said Walsh.
Walsh said N.L. Health Services needs to hold the Department of Health to a higher standard of accountability.
"No one's overseeing the shop," Walsh said. "The standards are almost 20 years old."
Walsh said the role of Seniors' Advocate in this province does not include the ability to investigate individual issues or complaints – she can only focus on systemic issues. But, Walsh said, advocates do have wider investigative powers in other provinces, such as New Brunswick, which completed an investigation into long-term care last year.
If the Seniors' Advocate in Newfoundland and Labrador did have that power, Walsh said there would be more oversight into personal and long-term care homes in the province. She would also be able to advocate for individuals who are facing dangerous situations.
In light of the Auditor General's report, Walsh said she'd like to see legislation supporting a continuum of care.
"It covers personal care in your home, it covers personal care homes, it covers assisted living, it covers long term care, palliative care, it's that whole continuum," Walsh explained.
"And we are one of the very few provinces in the country that don't have legislation to protect people who are living in these facilities."
Walsh is recommending that an independent body should hold the provincial government accountable so that eventually legislation can be passed to support seniors.
CBC News has requested a response from acting Minister of Health and Community Services John Haggie.
