COUNTY OF WELLINGTON – As an already long waiting list for a county-run long-term care home is expected to grow even more, county councillors wondered when to proceed with expansion.
In a presentation to county council at a Thursday morning meeting, Wellington Terrace director of care Tricia Burrough gave an update on the state of operations at the long-term care facility built about 17 years ago.
Burrough said the Wellington Terrace is home to 176 residents receiving care there, 110 women and 66 men with an average age of 82.
The landscape of who is coming in has changed. She explained residents at one time welcomed going into long-term care to enjoy living there for many years.
“People are coming to us much more frail and complex as they near end-of life,” Burrough said. “Throughout the pandemic we’ve also been increasingly presented with people facing homelessness, battling addictions, mental health challenges, financial instability.”
The waiting list has grown over the years too.
“We currently have 513 people on the waitlist to come to our home, up from 300 just a few years ago, 65 of whom are on the crisis category,” Burrough said.
Centre Wellington mayor Shawn Watters asked when it was time to look at expansion, especially considering the expected population growth in Centre Wellington.
Wellington Terrace administrator Sue Dronick explained this done through the province which gives a license for the amount of beds but they have not looked much into asking for expansion at this time.
Mapleton mayor pressed on this point, asking how long this process would take.
“Is it six months? Five years? Do we have an idea?” Davidson asked.
“I don’t have specific timelines on that, I just know that it’s quicker than it once was,” Dronick replied, adding she would look into this information.
Dronick explained the long waiting list is in part due to the Terrace’s reputation for the level of care provided. She said it has always had a waiting list, meanwhile she was aware of others in the past that had no waiting list at all.
Watters pointed out this plays into an ongoing crisis in Wellington County and the province.
“We have a housing crisis in our community and this is a part of that housing crisis and we really actually don’t talk about it,” Watters said, asking if the waiting list is expected to grow.
Dronick confirmed the waiting list is expected to continue to grow even with the province having many long-term care beds in development across the province at this time.
Coun. Diane Ballantyne asked if any expansion and associated operating costs would be funded entirely by the province.
“How we fund the Terrace is not 100 per cent through provincial funding … we do have county contribution,” Dronick said.
Warden Andy Lennox cut off discussion as it ultimately didn’t relate to Burrough’s presentation but noted it was clear there is interest in progressing this conversation.
“What I’m sensing from around the table is that we probably need to look at what the future holds for long-term care,” Lennox said.
