Tom Olsen - Too Many Seniors Doomed To Neglect

I doubt the column Tom Olsen wrote on the issues raised in the Legislature by the NDP's Brian Mason, was prompted and contributed to by his direct line to the cut and paste department of Public Affairs in Ralph's kingdom.

If Olsen had done any reporting and investigation past the media release and spin from Ralph, he would have found that there is more than a nugget of truth to what Mason has said.

What the story on the issue of the presented petition shows is that there are problems in the long term care area, but not all operators are guilty, and much of the trouble faced by the private nursing home providers is because of the political tinkering of the Premier in the run up to an election, and the fact playing field a nursing home operator is not level.

The private nursing homes live by rules set by the Health Region, and provincial government. The private nursing homes funding is set by the regions based on a nefarious one month snap shot of the entire health care needs of the residents in a nursing home.

The health region pays no taxes, and pays no profit to an owner, whether it is to the pockets of the owner or as retained earnings to be reinvested in new or renewed facilities or equipment. If a private nursing home like AgeCare runs a deficit just before an election it cannot expect to get bailed out like the Health Regions will.

The private nursing homes must employ nurses, both practical and registered, competing with the health region’s rates of pay. It does not have the deep pockets of that Klein has access to when the provincial government and nursing unions settle for wage and benefit increases just before an election.

There are more important questions to be asked by Olsen? All of which would have been more relevant and more important to the average Albertan who has or will have a loved on in a nursing home, private or not. They will not be found in the Public Affairs department of Klein's Kingdom.

Yes I have a vested interest in the private nursing home business. It is called my father. He now resides in a nursing home run by AgeCare and receives very good care, and care given because the staff want to and strive to be the best.