More Support for Long-term Care, Greater Accountability

Government is making it easier to access specialized long-term care equipment, and is making more information available about the sector.

An investment of more than $2.5 million was announced today, March 21, to help staff in long-term care facilities prevent and manage pressure injuries.

“We are committed to improving the quality of care in homes across the province,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “These investments are about providing staff with the tools they need to do that.”

A new agreement with the Canadian Red Cross will allow long-term care homes to access equipment like special air mattresses and pressure redistribution cushions easier and faster. The $1.68 million investment will allow long-term care homes to have a supply of equipment on site in their facilities ready to use, rather than having to wait for it to be shipped from the Canadian Red Cross.

“We’ll soon mark 100 years of the Canadian Red Cross involvement with community health care in Nova Scotia, which since 2005 has included materials and supplies for residents of long-term care facilities,” said Christina Baert-Wilson, senior director of Community and Health Services with the Canadian Red Cross. “We’re excited to support this additional initiative to enhance the comfort, safety and well-being of residents.”

Another $880,000 is being invested to purchase 209 new ceiling lifts to help long-term care workers move residents more safely.

“Having access to the equipment needed to provide safe care is essential to preventing pressure injuries and improving the quality of life for residents, and for the staff who want to provide the best care,” said Josie Ryan, executive director, Long-term Care, Northwood in Halifax Regional Municipality. “Today’s announcement is very welcomed in the long-term care sector and is a good example of what can happen through collaboration.”

Along with these investments, government is making more information about the long-term care sector available to Nova Scotians:

• quarterly data related to the Protection for Persons in Care Act is now available online at https://novascotia.ca/dhw/ppcact/
• inspectors have started using an electronic licensing and inspection program. The first inspection reports are expected to be posted online by the end of May 2019
• quarterly data related to pressure injuries will be available online starting July 2019
• a wound care policy for long-term care has been created and shared with facilities. This is in addition to the education sessions and wound-care tool kit provided to facilities last fall. A copy of the policy is available at https://novascotia.ca/dhw/ccs/policies-standards.asp .

These actions were recommended by the pressure injury working group and are supported by the Expert Advisory Panel on Long-term Care.