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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 13, 2008 - 3 For chicks AT THE DRIVE IN: More than $5,000 was raised at Wednesday's Chick Flicks at the 5, as the 5 Drive In collaborated with Vicky Ratcliffe and her business Travel Rite Accessories and Genworth Financial in a benefit for the Halton Women's Centre. Oakville firefighters washed windshields for $5 donations at the double bill that included a diva style tailgate party and activities from pole dancing to tarot card readings. Clockwise, from above, firefighter Cody Sirotkin applies the muscle while Chad Roberts collects the cash from Jill Anderson, left and Raquel Russell, right; All About Beauty's Barb Underwood gives Melvina Walter of the Women's Centre a beauty treatment; and, Jane Aradia of Aradia Fitness was on hand to demonstrate pole dancing. PHOTOS BY RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER Long wait for long-term care expected to get longer By Stephanie Hounsell SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A year's wait to get into a longterm care facility and the possibility of being placed far from home has some seniors worried and regional councillors expressing frustration. The topic was on the table at Tuesday's regional health and social services committee. A staff report said hospitals want to discharge patients who are going to a long-term care (LTC) home as soon as room is available to free up hospital beds -- but that can lead to a stressful situation for the seniors and their families. "Those waiting in hospital are being told that if they do not take the available LTC bed they will be charged up to $700 per day," the report states. "Seniors are then forced to move to LTC homes that are not their choice and commonly a long distance from their loved ones." Sometimes, the report states, their spouses can't drive anymore and can't easily visit them at the facility. If a senior in the community needs urgent admission, it's the same situation. They must take the first bed available, no matter where it is within the catchment area of the Mississauga-Halton Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), the report states. That means a Milton senior could be placed in a home in Mississauga or even south Etobicoke. Once there they can transfer, but that can involve a wait of more than two years since they're no longer a priority, the report states. An initiative by the Province and Local Health Integration Networks is seeking to address this situation, but it's too soon to tell if it's helping. For seniors not designated as "urgent," the wait for placement can be more than a year to get into one of the three homes owned and operated by Halton Region (Allendale in Milton, Post Inn Village in Oakville and Creek Way Village in Burlington); they're able to choose which home they go to. The admission process is coordinated by CCACs and Local Health Integration Networks. Adelina Urbanski, commissioner of social and community services, said the issue of LTC home delays and the fact seniors who need care urgently can't decide where they end up is an increasing one. Milton Councillor Colin Best said the lack of LTC home beds is affecting our already-burdened hospitals. "A number of people who are in critical care in the hospital should be in long-term care," he told fellow committee members. In Milton, the situation is made worse by renovations at Allendale, which has led to a temporary reduction in admissions in order to have 25 empty beds. Burlington Councillor Rick Goldring gave the example of someone in his ward who called him to say her surgery at Joseph Brant hospital had been postponed because there were no beds available -- likely due in part to the fact there are so few beds in LTC homes. Carr said the wait lists are good news/bad news story. On one hand, it means people want to get into Halton's LTC home facilities -- which he said is a credit to the facilities. But, of course, it also means plenty of frustration. And, he said, those delays are going to keep increasing, particularly with the thousands of new residents the Province's Places to Grow plan has dictated Halton take in. Carr said the LTC situation must be addressed in the Fairness to Halton campaign, the Region's response to Places to Grow. "It's our responsibility as elected officials to stand up for them," he said, referring to medical and long-term care staff, and the residents who require those services. Another issue is that seniors in the community have a longer wait for LTC beds than seniors in the hospital, who are given priority, the report states. The discussion turned toward the current status of Halton's hospitals, including Milton District Hospital's slated expansion and the new Oakville hospital. Councillors directed staff to invite hospital officials to a future committee meeting to give update presentations. They also supported a staff recommendation to request a meeting with the new provincial minister of Health and Long-Term Care to address these issues. September & October Star t Dates: Expect the unexpected. The ONLY Defensive Driving Program which includes virtual Reality simulation September 27, 28 October 4, 5 Saturday & Sunday 9:30am-4:15pm October 1, 8,15, 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19 Wednesday Evenings 6:00pm-9:15pm 235 Lake 235 Lakeshore Road Eas t, 905-845-7200 Lakeshore Road as 9 r e Ro