Travellodge: New longterm care for Alberta

[jstubbs]

One of the more bizarre stories I have read lately regarding the state of healthcare in Alberta. I have heard lots of hospital beds are taken up by seniors awaiting space in longterm care, but shipping them out to a motel where they’re fed McDonalds is a new one…

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7147904

[Trochu]

I wouldn't mind being taken to a hotel and fed McDonalds!

Good ol' CBC though, incorrect info 13 words into the article.

[Geraldsh]

I read about this on another forum, pretty disturbing.
In Europe they have dedicated buildings for ambulatory patients to recover in that are called “medical hotels”. Our bright people see the word hotel and immediately phone the Travellodge!??

[Big Grey Wolf]

It was on news channels last week that Danelle is going to ship us off to a motel.

[glen moa]

Where do you think the immigrants stay.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

I read about this on another forum, pretty disturbing.
In Europe they have dedicated buildings for ambulatory patients to recover in that are called “medical hotels”. Our bright people see the word hotel and immediately phone the Travellodge!??

Then again European countries pay up to 55% income tax, and up to 25% sales tax. If the socialists had their way, it would be the same in Canada.

[W921]

As crazy as it sounds but there are a lot of seniors that and I'm not trying to offend anyone and im not talking about anyone on this forum but they live alone and there is in lots of cases a reason they live a lone and then have a surgery in a hospital and you can't discharge them because the can't look after themselves or their house full of dogs or cats and wait list is long for assisted living and kids, relatives can't or won't look after them and just sad and awful situations but they end up stuck in hospital beds for months and months because no place for them and this is not just a Alberta problem
A lot of seniors have nothing and in some cases because of pets you might as well burn house to the ground

[jungleboy]

I’ve spent time in hospital and I’ve spent time on the road in Hotels. I can tell you, the Hotels are likely kept a bit cleaner, and definitely quieter . Of course it depends on the Hotel.

Hospital - 6 to a room , tiny tv if at all noisy, dirty, dirty communal bathroom

Hotel - private room large colour tv , clean bathroom

Hospital food or McDonald’s as long as a bathroom is close and clean I’ll take McDonald’s

[britman101]

Well at least someone at the UCP is taking the complaint seriously. Jason Nixon the minister of social services, has said he will investigate and look into the situation. You have to wonder about the minister of health, Adriana Lagrange as to what she was thinking when talking to reporters about this one. She says, " proper procedures were followed and that the non-profit business "Contentment Social Services" should be able to answer why they picked a hotel for this fellow. The man in question had suffered a stroke, was paralyzed on his left side and has to use a wheelchair. You have fast food delivered to him, and no daily checks on him by healthcare staff to see how he is doing. Seriously?
Contentment Social Services does not have an office in Edmonton, apparently only a post office box. And they refuse to return any phone calls or emails when questioned by the media. Also hopefully people realize this non-profit organization is getting paid by the government for " services they deliver". Hopefully a proper investigation is done on this, to get both sides of the story.

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

It was on news channels last week that Danelle is going to ship us off to a motel.

Well well well…. I would choose the tRavelodge from Danielle than euthanasia from Justin’s liberals…..

[lmtada]

Crazy in 2018. Wife was in university hospital in Edmonton for cancer surgery. After surgery, she was in a room with a single little older lady (75+), and while my wife was sleeping, the old gal would drink wife’s fruit juice, and eat her dinner. When she asked about this lady. She found out she had no home, no kids that would take her in. She was alone in the hospital. Needless to say, wife ordered extra juice, food for old gal. Disappointing her own family wouldn’t help her out of that situation (that is completely different story).

[KGB]

Originally Posted by lmtada

Crazy in 2018. Wife was in university hospital in Edmonton for cancer surgery. After surgery, she was in a room with a single little older lady (75+), and while my wife was sleeping, the old gal would drink wife’s fruit juice, and eat her dinner. When she asked about this lady. She found out she had no home, no kids that would take her in. She was alone in the hospital. Needless to say, wife ordered extra juice, food for old gal. Disappointing her own family wouldn’t help her out of that situation (that is completely different story).

That might not be that black and white as you think…. After my dad had a stroke, he was affected mentally… Was always hungry no matter how much food you give him. Because he was a diabetic, his food was very strictly monitored by us. So one day we found out that he was asking people for food while going for a walk with mom or his sitter…. One lady gave him half a loaf of white bread that he managed to hide away… We couldn’t figure out where are those bread crumbs coming from that we found in his bed….

[Who Da Fisherman]

Originally Posted by W921

As crazy as it sounds but there are a lot of seniors that and I'm not trying to offend anyone and im not talking about anyone on this forum but they live alone and there is in lots of cases a reason they live a lone and then have a surgery in a hospital and you can't discharge them because the can't look after themselves or their house full of dogs or cats and wait list is long for assisted living and kids, relatives can't or won't look after them and just sad and awful situations but they end up stuck in hospital beds for months and months because no place for them and this is not just a Alberta problem
A lot of seniors have nothing and in some cases because of pets you might as well burn house to the ground

I know a woman who spent 6wks in a hospital while waiting for a room in a home opened up, this was in Sask. she needed a little bit more help then the husband could give so no choice in going home. When she finally got into the home, the hospital sent her a bill for the 6wks which she had no money for.
Can’t make this chit up!
WDF

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

I know a woman who spent 6wks in a hospital while waiting for a room in a home opened up, this was in Sask. she needed a little bit more help then the husband could give so no choice in going home. When she finally got into the home, the hospital sent her a bill for the 6wks which she had no money for.
Can’t make this chit up!
WDF

I guess I don't really see the issue with that. Should hospitals just let people stay there for free?

[Big Sky]

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

I know a woman who spent 6wks in a hospital while waiting for a room in a home opened up, this was in Sask. she needed a little bit more help then the husband could give so no choice in going home. When she finally got into the home, the hospital sent her a bill for the 6wks which she had no money for.
Can’t make this chit up!
WDF

Just went through this with a relative.

This is pretty standard. Once a person has recovered from whatever put them in the hospital they should be transferred to Long Term Care. In Alberta, a resident of Long Term Care typically pays for room and board with their own funds. The care that they receive is paid for by the gov't.

If there is no room in Long Term Care, the person is allowed to stay in hospital, but is required to pay for their room and board at a rate similar to what is charged in Long Term Care.

If you are in the hospital receiving care, your condition may improve or change to a point where the hospital care team may determine your care needs no longer require hospital services. It may be decided you would best be cared for in designated supportive living or long-term care.

If a designated supportive living or long-term care space is not immediately available to meet your needs and preferences, you may be required to stay in the hospital while waiting for a space to become available.

If you are staying in a hospital bed while awaiting a move into designated supportive living or long-term care, you will be charged a fee called an Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Accommodation Charge.

https://www.alberta.ca/continuing-ca...dation-charges

[densa44]

Having run lots of these places, I can tell you conclusively that people want to go home. I don't blame them!

We need barrier free housing, not 3 story high rises, with lots of stairs. There is lots of reearch that show if the patient (you and I) can handle 2 stairs they could be discharged back to the community.

Developers will not build this type of housing unless there is an incentive, such as; the municipality won't approve the subdivision unless there are barrier free houses in the mix. Other countries do this and some places in Canada, Pentiction comes to mind. This is self funded, no government or taxes.

The health system cannot start competing with motels, send the patients back home, and/or build homes that they can buy after they sell the house that they have now.

Alberta for many years has used the institutional solution, patients sent to Ponoka for example with no chance for discharge. That was wrong, and we can do much better. This is not a big political problem it just takes vision and a viable plan. So far I have seen neither. Too bad.

[Big Grey Wolf]

You younger guys time is coming in Alberta. The way Danelle is dismantling Health Care In Alberta you will also get your stay in Travel Lodge lodge.

[W921]

Originally Posted by densa44

Having run lots of these places, I can tell you conclusively that people want to go home. I don't blame them!

We need barrier free housing, not 3 story high rises, with lots of stairs. There is lots of reearch that show if the patient (you and I) can handle 2 stairs they could be discharged back to the community.

Developers will not build this type of housing unless there is an incentive, such as; the municipality won't approve the subdivision unless there are barrier free houses in the mix. Other countries do this and some places in Canada, Pentiction comes to mind. This is self funded, no government or taxes.

The health system cannot start competing with motels, send the patients back home, and/or build homes that they can buy after they sell the house that they have now.

Alberta for many years has used the institutional solution, patients sent to Ponoka for example with no chance for discharge. That was wrong, and we can do much better. This is not a big political problem it just takes vision and a viable plan. So far I have seen neither. Too bad.

I had surgery four years ago. They told me on second day I was going to get phsio and then be released when I passed phsio.
I literally could not take a step because I was dizzy and they still passed me haha
If I was making up a story I would make it more believable

[britman101]

There is a New Zealand curling team that is living in a retirement residence in Calgary to save rent apparently. Here is the article in the Calgary Herald:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...86d21b1d&ei=16

So using the situation in Edmonton as an example, if there are residences like this available in Edmonton why not book patients in there - even for a short stay. The person can get the assistance they need, as well as to socialize with other people. They seem to be like hotels according to the article and I am sure a reasonable cost could be worked out with these places by the provincial government.
Some days it seems like the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing when you deal with the government.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by britman101

There is a New Zealand curling team that is living in a retirement residence in Calgary to save rent apparently. Here is the article in the Calgary Herald:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...86d21b1d&ei=16

So using the situation in Edmonton as an example, if there are residences like this available in Edmonton why not book patients in there - even for a short stay. The person can get the assistance they need, as well as to socialize with other people. They seem to be like hotels according to the article and I am sure a reasonable cost could be worked out with these places by the provincial government.
Some days it seems like the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing when you deal with the government.

The mother in law was in a facility until very recently that also had a few university students living in residence, with the caveat that they spend X amount of time interacting with the residents. It seemed to work out well for all. The kids got cheap food and accommodation, and the residents got a couple of adopted "grandsons" that they could play crib with. Win, win.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by Scott h

The mother in law was in a facility until very recently that also had a few university students living in residence, with the caveat that they spend X amount of time interacting with the residents. It seemed to work out well for all. The kids got cheap food and accommodation, and the residents got a couple of adopted "grandsons" that they could play crib with. Win, win.

When my son was in university he found a place to stay for free. It was an older woman whos family was worried about. The deal was he stayed there, she fed him, and he checked up on her every morning and every evening. He shoveled, mowed, and did the little things around the place as well as kept here company. They both wept when he moved on.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

When my son was in university he found a place to stay for free. It was an older woman whos family was worried about. The deal was he stayed there, she fed him, and he checked up on her every morning and every evening. He shoveled, mowed, and did the little things around the place as well as kept here company. They both wept when he moved on.

Good on him! If there were more situations like what your son organized, everyone would be better off for it.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by W921

As crazy as it sounds but there are a lot of seniors that and I'm not trying to offend anyone and im not talking about anyone on this forum but they live alone and there is in lots of cases a reason they live a lone and then have a surgery in a hospital and you can't discharge them because the can't look after themselves or their house full of dogs or cats and wait list is long for assisted living and kids, relatives can't or won't look after them and just sad and awful situations but they end up stuck in hospital beds for months and months because no place for them and this is not just a Alberta problem
A lot of seniors have nothing and in some cases because of pets you might as well burn house to the ground

My father lived out his last ten years in the Pincher Creek hospital. I WISH he could have been in a nice hotel for the remainder of his life. That was forty years ago and the problem of housing seniors has not gotten any better. Time to dismantle the bloated AHCS and start over.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by britman101

There is a New Zealand curling team that is living in a retirement residence in Calgary to save rent apparently. Here is the article in the Calgary Herald:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...86d21b1d&ei=16

So using the situation in Edmonton as an example, if there are residences like this available in Edmonton why not book patients in there - even for a short stay. The person can get the assistance they need, as well as to socialize with other people. They seem to be like hotels according to the article and I am sure a reasonable cost could be worked out with these places by the provincial government.
Some days it seems like the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing when you deal with the government.

These private residences usually have a waiting list to get in. The people living there are spending $8,000 or $9,000 a month to live in a nice setting and I don't think anyone spending that much would be agreeable with hospital patients rotating through their home.

[britman101]

This hotel stay situation is turning into a major black eye for the UCP. This past Thursday on a televised news conference the AHS CEO, and minister Lagrange along with another individual tried to explain how this situation occurred, and the process that should be followed when patients are discharged to another care facility. It looked like they were trying to find a scapegoat for the whole sad affair, to top it all off, both of them said they had never heard of Contentment Social Services. Also near the end of the conference it was stated by Lagrange that changes to Continuing Care would now be delayed from April 1st to sometime in September.
Also to add more mystery to this whole series of events, minister Jason Nixon went out to the hotel in Leduc where the patients had been staying and paid off a huge hotel bill with a government Visa card to the tune of approximately $25 thousand dollars. This was confirmed by premier Danielle Smith. This whole series of events has opened up a whole can of worms as to how patients are discharged from hospitals in Alberta, especially those who need continuing care.

[roper1]

Originally Posted by britman101

This hotel stay situation is turning into a major black eye for the UCP. This past Thursday on a televised news conference the AHS CEO, and minister Lagrange along with another individual tried to explain how this situation occurred, and the process that should be followed when patients are discharged to another care facility. It looked like they were trying to find a scapegoat for the whole sad affair, to top it all off, both of them said they had never heard of Contentment Social Services. Also near the end of the conference it was stated by Lagrange that changes to Continuing Care would now be delayed from April 1st to sometime in September.
Also to add more mystery to this whole series of events, minister Jason Nixon went out to the hotel in Leduc where the patients had been staying and paid off a huge hotel bill with a government Visa card to the tune of approximately $25 thousand dollars. This was confirmed by premier Danielle Smith. This whole series of events has opened up a whole can of worms as to how patients are discharged from hospitals in Alberta, especially those who need continuing care.

I saw the 25G bill also. Might that not be the problem of the contracted service? Sure looks like no one is in charge, or that there's any managerial talent in the system.

[HyperMOA]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

You younger guys time is coming in Alberta. The way Danelle is dismantling Health Care In Alberta you will also get your stay in Travel Lodge lodge.

Perfect, better than the path we were on.

[traderal]

Seems once politicians get elected they get surrounded by yes men, and useful idiots, and out comes the double speak, PR statements, finger pointing, buck passing. It's like they start to live in a bubble and lose their mind. It also happens in any big business with the CEO's and VP's.
All Lagrange had to say right from the start is that this whole episode was unacceptable and would be investigated ASAP and corrected, you know act like a Minister in charge.

[Tommy]

If it's the Travel Lodge in Leduc center that would be no place for someone on long care. The place is really rough, lot people of the night so to speak and dealers.

I know someone that use clean the rooms there part time for extra cash while her kids were in school. That didn't last long, she saw a lot of bad stuff happening there, went to clean up a room and found a body, girl had OD'd. Not the only one found dead at the place.

She told me that the owner lives in BC and has a caretaker look after it and he allows a lot of strange stuff just to line his pockets. How could AHS ever use that place, the reputation of which is well know in Leduc.

Tommy

[traderal]

My first thought was that maybe someone at AHS or Social Services is getting something under the table for referring patients to that site.