Discussions to provide more long-term care spaces in the Border City are to resume in the fall.
That’s the word as the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society is finally able to hold their AGM in-person after two years. Monday saw the membership in session at the Legacy Centre.
President Graham Brown says they are getting back to the work of expanding the number of long-term care spaces and both Alberta and Saskatchewan health officials are agreeing that the long-term care committee will resume meeting in September. Their work is tasked with addressing a growing shortfall of spaces.
“We have got commitment and agreement from both Saskatchewan and Alberta that we are short 60 beds now and by 2035, we are going to be short 148 beds.”
Brown says with the shortfall identified, the question is which province wants to take the lead. With more long-term spaces on the Alberta side, the sentiment is for the land of the living skies to step up.
“There seems to be a lot more long-term beds on the Alberta side and we think that the shortfall is more acute on the Saskatchewan side at this time. So that’s probably the way we will be pushing now, for the next build will be let’s get another building built in Saskatchewan.”
Brown identifies the level 3 and 4 long-term nursing care facilities as Jubilee Home on the Saskatchewan side, and on the Alberta side, Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre and the Lloydminster Continuing Care Centre. He says having the agreement from bi-provincial health officials acknowledging the shortfall in spaces means they sense the need to proceed.
“I am assuming that means that they recognize that we need to get going on this. And the conversations we’ve had with Saskatchewan Health have been very positive. So hopefully we can get some traction there.”
Their two areas of concern are increasing the number of long-term beds and advocacy on behalf of seniors in Lloydminster and area.
“We’re advocating all the time to governments that we need more long-term spaces and making sure that the levels of care are where they should be. The other part of what we do is advocating for individuals. If those individuals are trying to use the system and are not sure how to do that, we will help them with that.”
Brown adds this includes anyone who feels that “they have been mistreated by the system and they don’t know where to go; come to us.”
Updates on activities and healthcare discussions can be found on their Facebook page.
