Care homes need to slow down on rate increases, says seniors' advocate

Seniors’ advocate: Wait at least 90 days before any rate hikes to personal-care homes

1 year ago

Duration 0:30

Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors’ Advocate Susan Walsh says personal-care home fee increases of up to 15 per cent are too steep to be implemented all at once. There are 600 people who don’t qualify for government subsidies and pay thousands to stay in care homes, Walsh says, and her office has been contacted by seniors who don’t know what to do or where they will go.

Newfoundland and Labrador's seniors' advocate says some personal-care homes in the province are raising fees too quickly for private-pay clients who don't qualify for government subsidies.

Susan Walsh said the 30 days' notice given in most cases isn't enough time for families to plan for a large increase to fees.

"The worry is related to the time frame they've been given. It's a short time frame," said Walsh.

CBC News spoke with Dawn Furey of Paradise on Monday, who said her mother and family were stunned to learn that her rate at Kingsway Living would increase by 14 per cent — an increase of more than $450 per month —  in 30 days.

The increase comes following an announcement in late September that the provincial government had increased the rate it pays for government-subsidized beds in care homes, while some private-pay clients like Furey's mother, who doesn't qualify for subsidies, at the same care homes have seen their fees increase.

Walsh said she understands the cost of care has gone up — September's increase was the first since 2017 — but she's asking care-home operators to delay any increases for at least 90 days.

"When you're going up by three, four hundred dollars a month one time, you know, right away, that's hard to plan for," said Walsh.

"We have to remember that a fair number of these seniors have care needs, so it's not like they can go out and just rent an apartment.… I'm not saying there shouldn't be an increase, I'm saying, 'Should there be a delay here?'"

Roughly 600 care-home residents don't qualify for subsidies because they exceed financial thresholds, according to a press release from Walsh's office.

Furey applauded Walsh's call for a delay, saying it would give families more breathing room.

In a meeting with the owners of her mother's home on Monday, she said, she felt there was a lack of empathy.

"We were told an emphatic no. The increases were proceeding in 30 days, and it was, like, lump it or get out," Furey said.

Kingsway's management has not responded to requests for comment.

Furey says rate increases shouldn't be solely at the discretion of care homes and the provincial government should step in.

WATCH | Dawn Furey says she feels the owners of her mother's personal care home have 'no empathy':

Daughter of care home resident says owners' position on rent hike is 'lump it or get out'

1 year ago

Duration 0:41

The Newfoundland and Labrador seniors’ advocate has requested that personal-care home owners suspend rate hikes for 90 days. But Dawn Furey says the owners of the facility her mother lives in have made it clear they’re moving ahead with increases — which adds an extra $450 to Furey’s mother’s bill each month.

"They mandate sprinkler systems, they mandate, you know, fire escapes. They mandate food. So they could mandate some type of rental agreement," she said.

During question period at the House of Assembly on Thursday, Premier Andrew Furey said the Department of Health and Community Services is reassessing seniors to see if they now qualify for government subsidies.

"We understand the pressures that families and seniors are under when it comes to care," he said.

"We'll continue to make sure that families aren't negatively impacted from a well-intentioned intervention."

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