Sterling demands equal care for residents moved out of RRC into long-term care, Minister claims no residents are being moved into long-term care facilities 

(Queen’s Park, Toronto) – Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur does not know what is happening with the severely disabled former residents of Rideau Regional Centre (R.R.C.).  Despite the fact that there have been more than 20 former residents moved into long-term care homes, during Question Period the Minister claimed that none are being moved into these facilities.

“I am shocked that she is unaware that RRC residents are being moved into long-term care beds,” said Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Norm Sterling. 

On Monday in the Legislature Minister Meilleur said she could guarantee that former residents would receive care and services at least equal to those they had been receiving at RRC.  However, as Mr. Sterling pointed out during today’s question, individuals who move from RRC to a long-term care facility will get 60% less attention because the staff to resident ratio is 60% lower in long-term care facilities than it is at RRC. 

“I have spoken to the parents of some of these residents,” said Mr. Sterling, “and they tell me that they are promised that there will be programming and services but there isn’t.  The government is so focused on getting the residents moved out of the Regional Centres that there is no time or money spent on developing services or programs that are comparable to those these severely disabled individuals received at RRC.” 

As in other cases, the McGuinty government showed no compassion for these severely disabled individuals, discounting Mr. Sterling’s concerns and claiming that all former residents are happily accommodated in community living facilities and that their families are satisfied with the level of service.  Instead the Minister tried to deflect the criticism, accusing Mr. Sterling of fear mongering and putting the blame on previous governments. 

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For more information, call Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900

HaNSARD TRANSCRIPT – MAY 28, 2008

QUESTION PERIOD

Services for the developmentally disabled

Mr. Norman W. Sterling: My question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services. Madam Minister, there are approximately 100 remaining residents at Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls. Almost all of these severely disabled people will be occupying long-term-care beds in the city of Ottawa. Is it true, Madam Minister, that you are evicting these residents from their homes of 40 years in many cases and labelling them homeless in order for them to jump the long quay of hundreds of people waiting for long-term care in the city of Ottawa?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: It’s very unfortunate that comments like this come from the member of the Tory party. That’s very unfortunate because we are closing these institutions, yes. When this government was in power, they also supported the closures. These people are treated with respect. The decisions are taken with the individual at the centre, not with the MPP who used to represent that sector and did not want to close the institution because it will take away jobs in his riding, not because of that. It’s about the people, we have the people in the centre. They’re working with staff that are helping them to place these individuals at the right place closer to the family. The family is involved and the service—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling: You are declaring them homeless and you are putting them to the top of the list by doing that. On Monday during the debate on your bill, you said that former residents of Rideau Regional were guaranteed as good or better treatment than they received at Rideau Regional. Madam Minister, you’re putting many of these former residents in long-term care because they are severely disabled, and that’s the only place to go. At the present time, at Rideau Regional, there are three staff taking care of 12 residents. In the long-term-care facilities, there are three staff for every 32 residents. That’s a decrease of 60% staffing to take care of these vulnerable, severely disabled adults. Madam Minister, how can you guarantee equal caring for these individuals with—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Minister of community and social services.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: First of all, let me say that it’s incorrect to say that these individuals are placed in long-term care. It is incorrect. These individuals are placed close to their family in—

Hon. Jim Watson: In the community

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: —in the community, yes, in a group home. It’s unfortunate because this member, even though he supported it when they were in power, has tried to scare the families and say that we are not looking after their interests. The person is at the centre, and we have these people working with them. Two weeks ago, I had a meeting with these officials who are helping to move these people in the community, and they were telling me that’s the best job they ever had because they see these individuals before and they see them after—