Refuse first available nursing home and have your home care reduced

The Sudbury Star reports that Community Care Access Centre clients on crisis lists are given first shot at any long-term care bed that becomes available in their community. But if they refuse that first bed, they face having home care reduced as the refusal indicates they are not in crisis.

MPP France Gelinas, the NDP Health and Long-Term Care critic, says the policy causes untold hardship for people in Ontario.

The Star adds that this "policy, or at least the result of it, has devastated the family of Alphonse Savoie, of Hanmer. The 81-year-old's six children fought to keep Alphonse and his wife, Alice, together as long as they could. After exhausting the family's financial and emotional resources, and failing to find long-term care together for their parents, the family finally agreed to place Alphonse alone at Extendicare York."

Update: The Star reports today that Health Minister Matthews and the Ministry are following up with the North East CCAC and the Ontario Association of CCACs to better understand the problems and find solutions.

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