A Long-term care facility in La Ronge is still in the planning phase. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

advanced care

Doctor believes need for long-term care in La Ronge is ‘significant’

May 21, 2019 | 5:00 PM

A physician in La Ronge believes there’s significant room for expansion of long-term care facilities in the tri-communities.

“It’s extremely important to have access to good long-term care,” said Dr. Michael Bayda. “I think there’s a growing need across the province, especially in our region there’s a strong need for it. There’s an increasing push to support patients wherever they can best be supported and where they want to be supported.”

The issue of the lack of long-term care in La Ronge is being headed by local resident Gary Viteri, who approached La Ronge councillors at a regular meeting this month asking them to sign his petition. Viteri is currently caring for his wife, Nadine, who has early onset dementia and he’s struggling to find the care she needs in town. For local residents like Gary and his wife, Bayda stated it’s important families can have access to care in their home communities to be closer to family and remain in a familiar environment.

At the long-term care unit in the La Ronge Health Centre, Bayda noted the facility is capable of operating at high level – meaning it is suitable for clients with dementia. Other facilities in the region like Elder Catherine Charles Home in Bells Point or Elders Haven in Stanley Mission, however, can’t accept clients with that level of need. Bayda added long-term care also includes younger people who need the extra care as its not just for seniors.

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“There are different levels for long-term care and different care facilities provide different levels of service to best meet their needs,” he said. “Long-term care could include younger or older people, it could be primarily medical management or behavioural intervention, especially in the case of dementia or something like that.”

Bayda also talked about the stress created when families need to send their loved ones away to another community for long-term care. He noted there are financial consequences, it’s time consuming and it can stretch a family’s resources.

“I think there’s significant room for expansion of long-term care facilities in our community,” Bayda said.

According to an email to larongeNOW from the Government of Saskatchewan, the building of a long-term care facility in La Ronge is still in the planning phase. It also states there is significant infrastructure needs through the province, which the government will continue to address as resources allow.

“Approval of major capital projects depends on funding availability,” the email states. “Consideration of major projects occur each year as part of the province’s annual budget development process.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno