A Winnipeg retirement home is crying foul on the City of Winnipeg for charging seniors thousands of dollars in the event emergency services has to respond after someone has taken a fall — but a city councillor says there’s more to the story as he accused the facility of “corporate gouging.”
The Waverley, a for-profit assisted-living facility in Linden Woods, issued a letter to its residents in which it advised that staff members are not trained to help seniors who have fallen.
“Historically, we attend to a resident who has fallen and assess if the resident is able to stand on their own. If unable, our role is to call emergency service,” reads the March 21 notice that was signed by the executive director.
The letter explains that a response by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service could cost more than $2,000.
“The direction we have received from the City of Winnipeg — Fire Paramedic Services is that if any lift is performed in our community… this charge will apply,” it says.
Coun. Evan Duncan, who chairs the city’s community services committee, described the letter as an attempt by the facility to “protect it’s bottom line” by blaming the government rather than upgrading its equipment and hiring staff qualified to provide basic care.
“These large corporations that run assisted-living facilities are now passing the buck to their clients instead of eating the cost themselves or hiring staff to provide the services.”– City councillor Evan Duncan
“These large corporations that run assisted-living facilities are now passing the buck to their clients instead of eating the cost themselves or hiring staff to provide the services,” he said.
“Shame on those corporations for saying ‘the City of Winnipeg gave us no choice.’ They have a choice to provide the services that should be provided in their buildings. That is corporate gouging at its best.”
Advocates said they fear the service fees may prevent seniors from calling for help.
“We’re concerned about the cost of it,” said Sue Vovchuk, executive director of the Long Term & Continuing Care Association of Manitoba. “As it stands right now, assisted-living (facilities) are not required, nor do they provide, the equipment or medical assistance.”
Provincial legislation doesn’t require supportive housing and assisted-living facilities to abide by the same regulations as health-care centres. While staff help residents cook, clean and plan activities, they do not have to provide personal or health services.
In contrast, personal care homes, which are overseen by Manitoba Health, are expected to have nursing staff and health-care aides on duty at all times.
“These buildings are not health facilities, such as personal care homes, and are not licensed or regulated,” a provincial spokesperson said in an email statement. “Private operators are responsible for hiring and training staff.”
The letter highlights the challenge faced by many independent living providers, who typically employ “unregulated professionals” rather than licensed health-care staff, said Greg Reid, CEO of Fred Douglas Society, a non-profit supportive housing operator.
“I think it needs to be pointed out to the public that there is a difference between personal care home settings and supportive housing or assisted living… a very big difference in terms of care and the qualifications of staff who work in those facilities.”– Greg Reid, CEO of Fred Douglas Society
“I think it needs to be pointed out to the public that there is a difference between personal care home settings and supportive housing or assisted living — a very big difference in terms of care and the qualifications of staff who work in those facilities,” he said.
“The staffing in Winnipeg includes, for the most part, tenant companions, and those tenant companions are not educated or certified to help folks off the floor.”
The province should re-evaluate funding and subsidies provided to independent-living facilities, particularly those in the non-profit sector, so they can improve training standards, he said.
The association estimates supportive housing units typically cost residents up to $3,195 per month.
Reid said some for-profit facilities charge up to $7,000 per month.
A review of WFPS service rates confirms assisted lifts can cost from $1,470 to $2,601, depending on the number of first responders involved. If a patient requires a medical assessment or hospital transport, the charge goes up.
The rates were updated April 1, 2023; it is unclear what the services previously cost.
The WFPS did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The Waverley also did not respond.
Lift fees letter
Tyler Searle
Reporter
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press’ city desk. Since joining the paper in 2022, he has found himself driving through blizzards, documenting protests and scouring the undersides of bridges for potential stories.
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