Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

(Ohiarihko:wa/ July 23, 2018) “It is where you go to die.” That is the common response when community members are asked, “What do you think about Tsiionkwanonhso:te?”

In 2019, Akwesasne’s long term care facility will be celebrating 25 years of service to the Mohawk community (and their neighbors in SD&G). Despite a 15-year plan to have all beds filled with Akwesasne Mohawk residents in Tsiionkwanonhso:te, operations continue with a 50/50 population.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) holds the license to operate a 50-bed long term care home on the Ontario portion of the territory. Over the years, the description of the residential facility has been “adult care”, “chronic care” and finally, “long term care” as determined by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MHLTC).

All 627 long term care homes in Ontario are regulated to ensure that over 78,000 residents are protected and live in a place with dignity and in security, safety and comfort and have their physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural needs adequately met. 2007, c. 9, s.1.

Home: the fundamental principle (as defined by the MHLTC Act 2007)

1. The fundamental principle to be applied in the interpretation of this Act and anything

required or permitted under this Act is that a long-term care home is primarily the home of its residents and is to be operated so that it is a place where they may live with dignity and in security, safety and comfort and have their physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural needs adequately met. 2007, c. 8, s.

The Ministry’s Long-Term Care Home Quality Inspection Program purpose is to ensure LTC Homes comply with legislation and regulations. The following Inspection Protocols are used in all home inspections:

• Infection prevention and control practices

• Medication

• Residents’ Council Interviews

• Family Council Interviews

(The Dining Inspection Protocol is also used in an Intensive Risk Focused RQI.)

This is achieved by performing unannounced inspections and enforcement measures as required. The MHLTC conducts complaint, critical incident, follow up, comprehensive and other types of inspections. Copies of the public version of inspection reports detailing all findings of non-compliance must be publicly posted in LTC Homes and provided to Residents’ and Family Councils. They are also published on the Ministry’s website. To obtain Tsiionkwanonhso:te’s inspection report, you can ask the Administrator, Director of Care and/or the Administrative Assistant directly.

While the vast majority of long-term care homes are in compliance with provincial rules and regulations, Ontario intends to strengthen its quality and safety inspection program with new enforcement tools -- including financial penalties -- to ensure that all home operators are addressing concerns promptly. These proposed new tools would include: Financial penalties that would be applied to those operators who repeatedly do not comply with the requirements of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007.

The Home’s policy for ‘Zero Tolerance of Abuse and Neglect’ includes decision-making web to determine the course of action to take if ‘emotional’, ‘financial’, ‘neglect’, ‘physical’, ‘sexual’, or ‘verbal’ abuse is suspected. All employees, volunteers, service providers, and trades persons are educated on this important policy and procedures.

To help support a high quality of life for all residents in long term care homes, the MHLTC has established a process people can use to report concerns or complaints. Anyone who is concerned about any resident’s situation can report a concern or complaint, including: a resident, a family member, someone employed by the home, anyone providing services to the residents and any member of the public.

Reporting your concern directly to the home is usually the best and fastest way to solve the problem.

The management team at Tsiionkwanonhso:te depend on family and community members to share their concerns and observations regarding the care Residents receive. If a complaint is about possible harm to a resident, the home must investigate the complaint immediately.

As of July 1, 2018, MHLTC has introduced amendments to include an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) which would be issued against a licensee (MCA) for each

non-compliance with a requirement under the LTCHA, which results in an order, and where on any subsequent follow-up inspection(s), the licensee continues to be in non-

compliance with the same requirement, which results in a further order. When a licensee returns to compliance, an AMP would not be issued.

Secondly, a re-inspection fee which would be issued for a second, and subsequent, follow-up inspections with respect to an order(s).

Tsiionkwanonhso:te (LTC) cannot afford financial penalties. To purchase the equipment and supplies necessary for residents’ quality of life, fundraisers are planned and scheduled

throughout the year. Thanks to concerned community members successful grant writing proposals, funds were available to purchase healthcare equipment.

For more information about the laws regarding long term care, check Family Councils of Ontario; Residents Council and Ministry of Health Long Term Care websites.

A testimonial we’ve received is that “Tsiionkwanonhso:te is Cornwall’s best kept secret.”

The management team at Tsiionkwanonhso:te intends to provide the quality care that our residents deserve and enforce the ‘Zero Tolerance of Abuse and Neglect’ policy to keep them safe. With your assistance, we will succeed.

Nia:wen.