2 new long-term care homes, an $8,400 hospital bill, and over billing at a retirement home - This week in Elder Care News

It's Friday May 10, 2024, this is the week in elder care news.

Temiskaming Lodge and Extendicare Countryside long-term care homes open in Northern Ontario

Temiskaming Lodge and Extendicare Countryside both celebrated their grand openings this week, bringing a combined 384 beds to Northern Ontario.

Temiskaming Lodge serves culturally diverse seniors including Francophone and Indigenous residents. The home has access to translators, bilingual staff members, and partnerships with local cultural centres to deliver culturally-specific themed meals and programming.

Extendicare Countryside’s eight resident home areas consist of 20 private rooms and six standard rooms, for a total of 32 residents each. Resident care offerings include a designated Memory Care Unit, delivering high-quality, person-centered care for residents with dementia by creating spaces that provide comfort and warmth.

Both of these openings are part of Ontario's plan to build 58,000 new and upgraded beds across the province.

Temiskaming Lodge Press Release.

Extendicare Countryside Press Release.

Family says $8,400 fine because of Bill 7 will not be paid

Michele Campeau says the $8,400 bill her mom, Ruth Poupard, has received related to Bill-7 from Hôtel-Dieu Grace is a "scare tactic" that she's not falling for. Ruth continues to wait in the hospital for a bed at one of the five long-term-care homes the family wants. Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare CEO Bill Marra said Bill 7 is important legislation and necessary to free up essential resources.

You can find the full story HERE.

Retirement home resident overbilled thousands of dollars

Chantal Monk discovered she was being charged thousands of dollars by Chartwell Rockcliffe Retirement Residence for services being provided through the public health system. The money has since been refunded and the home has apologized for what it characterized as a clerical error. The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority determined the home didn't intentionally overbill Chantal.

From the article:

Wayne Hillier, deputy registrar of the province’s Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), in his ruling blamed poor communications and lack of consistent documentation by staff, which led to a belief by the family of a resident that the home had intentionally overcharged them.

You can read more about this story HERE.