Province adding 20 more beds across multiple long-term care homes

Health P.E.I. is adding 20 new temporary beds at six long-term care homes across the province in an attempt to alleviate pressures on the health-care system.

A letter to care staff March 19 from Health P.E.I. said it added 11 temporary "overcapacity" beds in February in several locations. It says that move has helped but more beds were needed, leading to the additional 20.

Andrew MacDougall, executive director of community health and senior care with Health P.E.I., said "a significant surge in pressures" in the hospital system led to this decision.

"We've seen that trend build over time and we've been doing our best to adapt to that."

He explained Health P.E.I. will be putting the beds into spaces where adult day programs are usually offered. While the duration isn’t completely known, the beds could be in place for several months.

"We're going to be using that on a temporary basis for a period of time until we get to, you know, a better state as a health system as it relates to pressures on our acute care system," he said.

The 20 new beds will be at the following long-term care homes:

MacDougall noted the importance of the adult day programs, which offer a social outlet for seniors in a safe and supervised environment.

"We wanted to preserve those programs … so we're in the process of making arrangements to establish temporary locations."

Once the long-term care spaces are prepared, MacDougall said, the day programs will be temporarily moved to alternate spaces. Those spaces have been found, with details being finalized, and they could be ready within weeks.

"We recognize how important this program is. We don't want to have any disruption," he said. 

The Health P.E.I. letter from March 19 says the move into adult day program spaces has the goal of minimal to no disruption to program delivery.

"These changes are being implemented out of necessity and are temporary, subject to ongoing review," the letter states.

It says more details would be available in the near future.