Urgent matter

Dear editor:
At a time when the Ontario government is announcing a $1.2-billion investment in long-term care and the introduction of 18,800 new long-term care beds, we are wondering why there has been a moratorium on admissions to Rainycrest Home for the Aged here in Fort Frances since March and why 15 beds have been closed at this same facility?
Our husband and father, Bill, has Alzheimer’s disease. We kept him at home until we could no longer care for him safely. He now requires 24-hour care. He has been in the Continuing Care Unit at La Verendrye Hospital since July while awaiting admission to Rainycrest.
We are aware of other families who are in this same situation. The hospital is becoming inundated with patients who should be in Rainycrest.
The hospital is not a home for Alzheimer’s and long-term care patients. They need to be settled in a home-like environment with planned activities and pleasant surroundings.
Rainycrest has a newly-constructed 32-bed Alzheimer’s unit as part of their 135 long-term care beds, but there has been a moratorium on admissions since March. Why?
We have been told that even when the moratorium is lifted, there only will be two beds available for new patients. This at a time when there is a waiting list of over 50 patients in the hospital and community who are awaiting admission to a long-term care facility.
Why the lack of beds?
We have been unable to obtain any information from anyone as to when they will be lifting the moratorium. We find this to be inconceivable that a long-term care facility can close its doors to its community for such a significant period of time.
We feel the health care system is sick and in need of care—just like our elderly. We implore Health and Long-Term Care minister Tony Clement to look into this matter as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
Joan Allison and
the Allison Family
Fort Frances, Ont.