Family cries foul over Etobicoke placement 11 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 25, 2009 June 22nd to July 4th Sidewalk Sale 21st Annual Shirts $50 Reg. $100-$200 Continued from page 3 term care residences in Oakville. Doug said he investigated sending his dad to Sunrise Assisted Living in Oakville, but said it doesn't accommodate care levels as per his dad's needs. He would be listed as a crisis patient and require additional staffing provided through the Halton Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). It would also cost a lot more and, eventually, he would move again. While it is a complex system, Doug explained seniors can choose their top three choices for long-term care. They can also choose private or semi-private rooms and the rates, accordingly. His dad receives just over $700 monthly to the cause as a veteran, so it is affordable for him and the family. However, according to information on the application process in Doug's possession, if a local space is not available, a spot within the Mississauga/Halton Health Integration Network (LHIN) could be made available -- and that's not only within Halton, but Mississauga and Etobicoke. That is what has happened as the CCAC reported no Oakville space available, said Doug. According to the CCAC's Janet Parks, director of client services, while the process is complex, the CCAC operates, by regulation, on choice. "It is a very regulated process. There's not a lot of wiggle room for creativity or circumventing the process. It doesn't give us a lot of flexibility," admitted Katherine Power, manager of strategic communications and public relations for the Mississauga Halton CCAC. The CCAC is aware of Parkin, but cannot comment directly on his case as per privacy legislation. The CCAC itself advises people to check out facilities thoroughly and ensure they're close to family and doctors. According to Parks, patients or their power of attorney if they are incapable, can apply for long-term care. They are assessed based on need and then choose facilities. "And then a person waits," said Parks. Parkin's forms were completed in March. The long-term care application form submitted to CCAC provide for patients to make three choices of facility location. At the top of the first page, there is information about consent to making the application and its personal information available to other long-term care facilities. It's a means of allowing for more than the three choices, according to StarrHemburrow who noted there are five facilities in Oakville and others in Halton. Patients have the right to refuse other than their three choices, but often they and families work with the hospital to get the patient to the right level of care and then the location of choice, noted Starr-Hemburrow. A patient could choose to wait in an alternative setting -- a residence that can offer more beneficial programming and environment that the acute care hospital setting can't -- while waiting for their choice to become available, according to Parks. For some, Parks said, it is preferable to be in a setting other than the hospital while they wait. According to Doug, who has his dad's power of attorney and has been privy to the entire process, nothing like that was ever signed or consented to by him or his dad, at least to his knowledge. Doug said his dad is mentally capable, but doesn't understand what he is signing. When one speaks to him about CCACs and long-term care, he doesn't understand, said Doug. The hospital indicates that the consent to share information is reviewed with the patient and family. According to Doug, his dad had been paying $1,578 monthly at the hospital ($722 of which came from Veterans Affairs) while waiting for a placement -- the same amount he would be paying if he were living in long-term care. However, upon refusing the alternative placement, Doug said his dad is now, under strict hospital policy, facing the potential of paying a $700/day "penalty" for using the hospital bed that he no longer requires. "Seniors are at the mercy of this hospital or any hospital. Everything's a dollar, everything's a cost," said Doug. The Parkins did meet with representatives of the CCAC and hospital. Doug said he was miffed that his father was forced to attend the meeting. Carlton and Starr-Hemburrow said discussions are ongoing to meet the needs of the family. "I've been keeping most of my feelings from him and most of the problems from him. I told him I would take care of things for him and not to worry about anything," said Doug, noting he doesn't want his dad upset, worried, moved away from his family or left in another community while on waiting list. "It'll be a big worry off my mind," said Parkin, a a long-time member of the Oakville Legion, when speaking of getting a local placement. "How many seniors don't have people to speak up for them?" asked Doug. So Doug has decided to take up the cause, for his dad and other seniors and has gone to the media to cast a spotlight on the complicated situation that is facing lots of seniors and lots more in years to come. It has garnered the attention of lots of wellwishers and the notice of Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer, who has promised to bring the case to the attention of Canadian Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson. While no one will breach the confidentiality rights of Parkin and couldn't comment in time for Beaver deadlines, a Veterans Affairs spokesperson said any veteran seeking assistance can contact them through a 1-800 hotline. `ONCE IN A BLUE MOON' prices on a great selection of Shirts, Pants, Shorts & Shoes @ 50 bucks each! Pants & Shorts $50 Reg. $100-$200 Shoes $50 Reg. $100-$200 Joker Aces 50% Off 35% Off All our regular brands. No special buys. Just names you can trust! Jacks, Queens and 2s to 10s Kings 20% Off 30% Off Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:00-7:00, Thurs. 10:00-9:00, Saturday 9:30-5:30 SAVE 20-50% SALES CONTINUES UNTIL JULY 4TH Dorval Crossing 300 North Service Rd. 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