Graham Brown, left, president of the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society, engages SHA rep Neal Sylvestre, executive director of continuing care NW, right, in an information update on long-term care spaces, while AHS rep Deborah Okrainetz, director of continuing care NE Central Region, awaits her turn to speak. The update took place at the Legacy Centre on Nov. 7. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
It may take a targeted advocacy plan to convince the Saskatchewan government to put the replacement of the existing 50-bed Jubilee Home on the front burner.
That’s what the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society learned from operations reps from Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) who met to support the need for more long-term care spaces in Lloyd on Nov. 7.
Neal Sylvestre, executive director of continuing care northwest SHA, talked about the power of community support to get the health ministry to green-light capital projects like Jubilee Home in the province.
“The ministry looks at all those top priorities and they do risk analysis etc. to determine where we need to put our money,” said Sylvestre.
He says his boss, Andrew McLetchie, vice-president of Integrated Northern Health, talks about the importance of advocating for political leaders to get their support in terms of setting priorities.
Sylvestre says once that happens, SaskBuilds works with the community on location etc.
“The biggest hurdle for this group is to get that green light from the ministry for them to understand this needs to be a top priority in the province,” he said.
The meeting focused on it being Saskatchewan’s turn to build additional spaces in Lloyd over the 148 spaces AHS and SHA have identified as the number needed in the whole region by 2035.
Brown looked for confirmation that any planning for new spaces will not be put on hold until a new community-integrated health services and facility infrastructure needs assessment is completed in the coming months by Saskatchewan and Alberta health ministries.
According to Deborah Okrainetz with AHS, there has been no change in the demand or forecast for spaces by her ministry in our geographic area.
She’s the director of continuing care NE Central Zone covering the Lloydminster region.
“We have not had any grants that have been announced by AHS for new capacity builds,” said Okrainetz.
“We do have our capacity planning for that geographic area which includes Lloydminster. There haven’t been any changes to that plan.”
Jody Barrett, director, continuing care partnerships and community administration support services AHS, confirmed there hasn’t been any change to the 148 spaces since the Long-Term Spaces in Lloydminster Working Group met last fall.
“There hasn’t been any refreshed numbers to that,” she said remotely.
Brown said now that the number is confirmed, “Let’s get moving on the next step.”
He acknowledged McLetchie has forwarded the Jubilee on the list of projects that need to get done by the ministry.
“We know we need 148 spaces in the Lloydminster region. We know Jubilee Home and the Sask government have said that. How do we get more than that? What is the next step? Somebody has to design something,” said Brown.
Senior Ron Gillies told the meeting a simple one-for-one replacement of spaces at the Jubilee isn’t what’s needed when the demand is for more spaces so Lloydminster seniors can stay in their community.
“I don’t disagree with the need. Obviously, we do need more beds, the need for the Jubilee has been put forward,” confirmed Sylvestre.
He went on to say the focus of their planning at SHA is around advocacy to increase the number of long-term care beds.
“We certainly stand with you in terms of supporting that advocacy,” said Sylvestre.
“We’re in the process at SHA of submitting to the minister what our priorities are in terms of renovations, enhancements of services etc.”
Sylvestre said he and Leonard Wegner, director of continuing care NW Lloydminster and area have put on the list, either an enhancement to or a replacement of the Jubilee Home.
He says he also shares the discussions with the Seniors Care Society with the people he reports to.
In her closing remarks, Okrainetz said, “I agree we need spaces. All kinds of spaces.”
She says this includes long-term spaces and transitional spaces that could be included in a rebuild of the Jubilee.
“We have challenges with space in Lloyd. I haven’t given up on Lloydminster,” she concluded.
Sylvestre thinks the new community needs assessment “will give us a wholesome picture of what it is we need and hopefully the leverage to see it though.”
He says a lot can change in 10 years since the last assessment.
“So I look forward to that. It’s going to give us the traction to get moving forward quickly thereafter,” he added.
