While we need facilities for our aging population in order to alleviate the stress of our over crowded hospitals, I think we must look at new models for delivering care.
Our government says staying in our own homes is best and I agree if we could receive the support we needed. At present that is not possible. Homecare sounds wonderful. Alberta does not fund enough positions and homecare workers are given time limits on visits. Workers are rushed, seniors are left sitting in chair for hours waiting to get up or be put to bed and many seniors are put to bed at 4 or 5 pm to accommodate the Homecare workers tight schedule.
Staying in ones own home can isolate many and we all know socialization is one key to staying well. I blogged about Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities(NORCs) in November 28, 2022 which are great for seniors who are still able to care for themselves with minimum support. What we need in NORC’s is a funded community coordinator. Volunteers are ready to help but we do burnout.
Here is a copy of the letters I mailed today. If you feel strongly it is important to let your government officials know. We can make a difference.
July 14, 2025
Premier Danielle Smith
Office of the Premier
307 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
cc:
The Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
The Honourable Jason Nixon Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services
Dear Premier Smith,
Re: Improving Long-Term Care Through 24/7 RN Coverage and Staffing Reform
I am writing to urge the Government of Alberta to consider implementing a province-wide standard for long-term care facilities that would include:
- Registered Nurse (RN) staffing on-site 24 hours a day;
- The regular presence of a nurse practitioner; and
- A reasonable patient-to-staff ratio to ensure safe and responsive care.
From my own lived experience visiting a long-term care facility—where my mother and father resided—I frequently arrived to find an ambulance on site, each time filled with anxiety, hoping it wasn’t my loved one in crisis. In many cases, these emergency calls could have been prevented with proper medical staff available on-site around the clock.
It was my experience that medical emergencies didn’t happen between 8-4 pm when an RN was on site nor only 3 days a week when a nurse practitioner was available.
This is not just a compassionate proposal—it is a fiscally responsible one. Emergency ambulance transports and repeated hospital admissions place significant strain on the healthcare system. Ensuring that long-term care residents receive timely assessments and treatment by qualified medical professionals in-house will reduce these costly interventions while dramatically improving quality of life for some of Alberta’s most vulnerable citizens.
This is a long-term solution that prioritizes prevention over reaction. It aligns with a sustainable health-care model that respects both the dignity of seniors and the capacity of the public system.
I respectfully ask your government to review and implement this approach in future long-term care standards and funding models. Alberta has the opportunity to lead by example, ensuring that elder care reflects our shared values of dignity, safety, and fiscal responsibility. If you pattern long-term care homes after Children’s Hospitals I think that would be key.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent and important matter.
Sincerely,
Joan Craven
Calgary AB
PS: I also sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney asking that our federal government create Federal Standards for all senior care – independent living, assisted living and long-term care or level four as it is sometimes called. Each province is different and it is not working.
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