Amendments to Homes for Special Care Act Introduced

The minister of Community Services is keeping her commitment and making life better for Nova Scotians with disabilities by introducing changes to the Homes for Special Care Act today, May 5.

The amendments will give the Department of Community Services and the Department of Health additional abilities to repeal or suspend a facility's licence if they are not in compliance with regulations. The Department of Community Services will also have the ability to appoint someone to take over or oversee operations until the licence is re-instated.

The changes come as a result of abuse or neglect in licenced residential homes for persons with disabilities from October 2007 to March 2010.

"When these cases came to light last year I was extremely upset and vowed to do everything I could to protect our most vulnerable population," said Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse. "As minister, I needed the ability, in those rare situations to intervene on behalf of the people living in homes and their families to ensure they are safe and being treated with the respect they deserve."

After a thorough review of the cases and meeting with various boards and administrators across the province Ms. Peterson-Rafuse committed to holding boards more accountable for the operations of their facilities and actions of their employees.

The changes apply to residential care facilities, overseen by the Department of Community Services, and includes nursing homes, homes for aged and residential care homes overseen by the Department of Health.

The amendments will also expand the number of homes that are covered under the act. Small option community homes with three or more residents, will now be licensed. Currently, only homes with at least four residents are licensed.

The amendments will ensure that another 219 homes will be covered under the act.

Once these homes are licensed, about 700 more residents will be covered by the Protection of Persons in Care Act, which ensures any allegation of abuse or neglect received by the department is investigated.

"Every individual who lives in a licensed residential home has the right to feel safe," said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. "This change allows anyone who knows about abuse or neglect to report it directly to the department and it will be investigated."

To report abuse or neglect of a resident of a licensed home for persons with disabilities call 1-800-225-7225.