Seniors Advocate Susan Walsh says the Canadian average is 5 percent however in NL from 2022-23 it was 12 percent.
NL’s Seniors’ Advocate, Susan Walsh, says seniors on the west coast are at the highest percentage in the province when it comes to using restraints or drugs in long term care. Walsh released a report yesterday, titled, “Monitoring Key Indicators of Seniors’ Wellbeing in Newfoundland and Labrador: A Baseline Report.” It highlights this province’s population of adults 65 years of age and over has grown by 20.3 per cent over the past five years to 24.4 per cent of the total population. She says the frequent use of restraints is an indicator of poor care and can lead to negative outcomes for seniors. Walsh says the Canadian average is 5 percent however in NL from 2022-23 it was 12 percent. She says the highest was the western zone at 20 percent use of restraints. Walsh says this is an area that needs further investigation because it is a really concerning number. She doesn’t understand why this number is so high. Walsh says it’s been over two years now since her office called for a review of the long term care system and government committed to doing it. She expects government will release it next month.