Elderly pushed out of hospitals: Elder Advocate

Jane Meadus of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly says that some seniors are being pushed out of hospital too soon under the province's Home First policy, the Ottawa Citizen reports.

"Patient safety is at high risk...While many patients will do well at home with extra home-care services, there are many who are too sick to be cared for at home."

Some elderly patients are being "forced" to go home to recuperate without being given the option to apply for long-term care and waiting for a bed while in hospital. And that might violate their legal rights.  In other cases, people are being pressured to enter private retirement homes, which can cost $5,000 a month and might not be able to provide the care needed, Meadus told the Citizen.

"There have already been cases where people have died due to being forced into them while really requiring long-term care."

ACE has received about 250 complaints from across Ontario in the past year. "Discharge from hospital is the No. 1 issue in our office," said Meadus.

Not so coincidentally
Also today, Health Sciences North hospital in Sudbury announced that it needs to 'save' $6 million to balance its budget this year.  Last year it needed to save $3 million and 30 beds were cut.