Debates of October 18, 2005 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement, I talked about the housing situation in the Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services on the facility in Deline. There is an elders' long-term care facility that is not being utilized, as Mrs. Groenewegen has indicated in her statement, to the fullest extent. This situation has gone on for a number of years. My constituents are asking for a resolution. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services inform this Assembly of the current status of the long-term care facility in Deline, and of any plans the department has for maximizing its utilization? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a working group comprised of officials from the department and from the Sahtu region, as well as a community member from Deline, looking at the best use for this facility. Initially, there was a thought and suggestion that we should be looking at a long-term care facility. What has come out of the work that has been done there are a number of things. Firstly, in order to get a better assessment of the level of need among the elders, they did a thorough review in the region of every elder and their acuity level, which came back with information that indicated the first priority was an increase of home care, which we are working with the Sahtu board to deliver.

Regarding the Deline facility itself, for the most part, 10 of the units are currently in use as independent living units. The suggestion now is that we look at converting the remaining six, and modify them to four independent living units. If that is not going to be a feasible option, there is a possibility of using that section of the facility that is currently underutilized as a place to be able to locate or co-locate a number of services and programs that are already currently in Deline. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s response. People in the Sahtu and people in Deline will be happy in terms of the potential use of that facility in Deline. In terms of timetables and time frames, when can the people in Deline expect some movement or some shift in the use of this six-unit facility, should the community and the department prove to go ahead with utilizing that facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that we are just waiting for some final confirmation from the community member that was on the committee, at which point we would be able to build the next steps into the planning processes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once the final confirmation from the community of Deline and the departments that are associated in utilizing this facility he says build into a planning process…What is the planning process? Is it one year, two years, four years? What is the planning process? Can people in Deline actually see some tangible things happening around that facility in terms of seeing it being operated in that fashion? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the important first step is almost complete, which is to finally have a comprehensive plan for the facility which also includes, as I indicated, a review of the acuity levels of all of the elders in the Sahtu region. When we get the final agreement in terms of the options, then we can determine the costs. Based on that, we can see how fast we can move on that part of the six-unit piece. I know the Housing Corporation is very interested and is willing to be, and has been, a partner in this project from the start. We are going to work together to move on this as quickly as we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for outlining the road map in terms of actually seeing something happen in this facility. Again, I want to ask the Minister, when can the people in Deline see some actual operations in those six units? Is it going to be two months? Is it going to be two years, three years? When, I guess, will this all come together so the people in Deline can actually see that facility being opened and used by the people in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated to the Member, once we get the final document, and we agree on the course of action in conjunction with all the stakeholders who are involved in the committee, then we will be able to determine how fast we can move on whatever course of action is determined to be the best. Thank you.