By Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby Now
Seven Burnaby seniors' care homes are getting additional funding from Fraser Health after rate adjustments were made in January.
The health authority is providing an additional $12 million in funding this year for 43 facilities throughout the region. Fraser Health is slated to provide $8 million in additional funding next year as well.
"The target is to increase direct care," said Ray Thorpe, spokesperson for Fraser Health.
He added the funding is also intended to standardize care throughout the region.
According to Thorpe, seven seniors' facilities in Burnaby will receive additional funding this year:
- Carlton Lodge has 76 funded beds and will get an additional $243,996.
- Dania Manor has 67 funded beds and will get an additional $6,364.
- Finnish Manor has 60 funded beds and will get an additional $320,215.
- George Derby Long-term Care Centre has 300 funded beds and will get an additional $1 million.
- Harmony Court has 55 funded beds and will get an additional $304,143.
- New Vista Care Home has 236 funded beds and will get an additional $71,007.
- Willingdon Park has 95 funded beds and will get an additional $48,967.
The extra funding was made possible through a rate adjustment last January.
"When the new and more equitable rate structure was introduced earlier this year, we committed that the increased revenue would be used to improve direct care for our seniors," said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon in a press release.
The funding is intended to increase direct care hours from an average of 2.46 hours per day per resident to 2.79 hours throughout Fraser Health's region, from Burnaby to Mission.
Direct care hours do not include meals, laundry or housekeeping.
New staffing standards have also been introduced.
"New standards for staffing and increased accountability for all providers will ensure that seniors in residential care receive the same level of quality complex care at every facility in Fraser Health's region-wide network of care," said Barbara Korabek, Fraser Health's vice-president of clinical operations.
The new standards require a minimum of one registered nurse at all times, increased licensed practical nurses, care aides and other health staff, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and dietitians.
Fraser Health spends approximately $450 million per year on residential care across the region, according to a press release. About 6,000 beds are located in 68 residential care sites funded by Fraser Health but operated privately or by non-profits.
Twenty-five residential care facilities in the region did not receive additional funding, including Carlton Gardens in Burnaby.
