By Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan staff
As the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the struggle of special care homes across Canada, the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) is asking the provincial government to establish standards that would elevate the safety and care for the people living in Saskatchewan’s special care homes.
“Special care homes in Saskatchewan have been chronically under-resourced and under- staffed for decades,” said CHAS Executive Director, Blake Sittler.
“We are entrusted with the care of vulnerable residents who require specialized care to meet their day to day needs. These are our grandparents, parents, spouses, children and they deserve so much more.”
In April 2013, the Government of Saskatchewan produced a document entitled “Program Guidelines for Special Care Homes” – it was later updated in May 2016. The document outlined policies about what the government wanted to see in special care homes but it did not identify standards or quantifiable measures to meet. Standards must include defined resources to ensure those needs can be met reasonably and safely, according to CHAS.
Blake Sittler, Executive Director, Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan
“I’ve seen the care and compassion that the staff in our care homes put into their work for the residents, but at some point in time the only way to increase the quality of care is to increase the resources based on standards that meet the growing and complex needs of the folks who call these respective places home,” Sittler explained.
“We need measurable standards for care and appropriate resources to ensure these homes have what they need to care for the residents,” Sittler noted.
“The needs of the people in special care homes have radically changed over the last 30 years,” Sittler added. “The needs are more complex but the baseline resources have remained nearly the same for decades.”
The recent worldwide pandemic has highlighted the problem, but is not the only concern of the organization focused on advancing the value of Catholic health care ministry.
“COVID is definitely an issue that is in the forefront at this time,” said Sittler. “But the issues of under-resourcing and under-staffing have existed for years. This pandemic and an upcoming provincial election have given us a brief opportunity to highlight these issues again in the hope that the government will articulate long-overdue standards”.
“We all love someone in a special care home,” Sittler concluded. “What I hope people will do is think about them and then call their MLA and ask what their plan is to create standards of care with measurable outcomes and a defined resource base to meet the needs of the vulnerable people who live in our special care homes.”
Special care home members of CHAS include:
- St. Joseph’s Hospital and Foyer d’Youville, Gravelbourg, SK
- Providence Place, Moose Jaw, SK
- St. Joseph’s Integrated Health Centre, Macklin, SK
- Villa Pascal, North Battleford, SK
- Foyer St. Joseph Nursing Home, Ponteix, SK
- St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan, SK
- Mont St. Joseph Home, Prince Albert, SK
- Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home, Regina, SK
- St. Ann’s Senior Citizen’s Village, Saskatoon, SK
- Samaritan Place, Saskatoon, SK
- Radville Marian Health Centre, Radville, SK
The Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) was formed in 1943 to be a voice for Catholic hospitals and long-term care facilities, and to protect and promote Catholic health care in Saskatchewan. Its mission is “Providing leadership, education and resources for all who serve in the healing ministry of Christ – in health care, parishes and communities.”
For more information about CHAS, please contact: Blake Sittler, Executive Director, Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan, #104-3502 Taylor St. E., Saskatoon, SK S7H 5H9; 306.270.5452, blake@chassk.ca –or see the website at www.chassk.ca
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Special Care Home Members of the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Foyer d’Youville, Gravelbourg Providence Place, Moose Jaw
St. Joseph’s Integrated Health Centre, Macklin
Villa Pascal, North Battleford
Foyer St. Joseph Nursing Home, Ponteix
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan
Mont St. Joseph Home, Prince Albert
Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home, Regina St. Ann’s Senior Citizen’s Village, Saskatoon Samaritan Place, Saskatoon
Radville Marian Health Centre, Radville
MLA contact information: https://www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/