Byline: Darrell Bellaart, The Daily News
Nursing home operators say they will soon start turning patients away in a funding dispute timed to coincide with the provincial election.
The B.C. Care Providers Association released what it calls new health and safety guidelines to "better protect staff and residents" at care homes due to increasing workloads because of what the association considers longstanding funding inequities, according to a press release.
The association, which represents 130 homes, plans to start assessing new patients transferred to them from health authorities according to a five-step grid, ranging from those needing two hours of care a day to a maximum of 3.2 hours. Those who they consider underfunded "may" be turned away, according to the association.
"This is voluntary for our members but we have a very good take-up from our members," said Dave Hurford, BCCPA spokesman. "Our members are worried about retribution from health authorities, that if they refuse admissions there will be retribution."
The association represents mostly private operators, although about 30% are not-for-profit care homes. Two Nanaimo members are the 300-bed Nanaimo Seniors Village, run by Retirement Concepts and Malaspina Gardens, operated by Chartwell Senior Housing, with 150 beds.
Retirement Concepts president Azim Jamal said the industry has a longstanding issue over funding inequities that differ from one health region to another, but which exist in all regions.
In the Fraser Health Authority a patient can be funded for 1.8 hours of care per day at one facility but get three hours of care at another facility, since there the funding formula depends on when the facility opened.
It's better within the Vancouver Island Health Authority, but not perfect, he said.
"They actually equalize funding for everybody," he said. "The problem is, VIHA doesn't recognize capital costs."
So while all patients get 3.2 hours of direct care, some higher cost new facilities "actually lost money and were told to incur staffing. They have not. They would go bankrupt."
A new facility might cost $40 more per day per unit to operate than a 25-year-old facility, he said.
Funding inequities are a sore point going back five years, and Jamal said it's no coincidence this campaign is timed during a provincial election.
Nanaimo Liberal candidate Jeet Manhas said he wants more information before commenting specifically.
"We've got to make sure there's enough funding for seniors in Nanaimo," Manhas said.
Leonard Krog, the New Democrat candidate, blamed the Liberals for this situation.
"The problem is government's insistence in supporting privatized delivery of seniors care," Krog said. "Guess what, not-for-profits do a better job and (employees) make decent wages."
VIHA CEO Mike Conroy was surprised to hear Jamal's concerns, since the private facilities were contracted under a competitive process.
"We believe funding for care should be used to provide care," Conroy said. "We need to ensure they accept residents when we make a referral."
Admission reductions are expected to start later this month or in May.
