– At its annual general meeting, the Association québécoise des retraité(e)s des secteurs public et parapublic (AQRP) revealed the results of Part Two of an exclusive poll on Quebecers’ perceptions of retirement homes. The survey’s primary finding: Most Quebecers believe that current certification requirements for private retirement homes are inadequate to ensuring quality of life in these facilities. It also showed that the vast majority of Quebecers believe that a coroner should be informed of every death occurring in a retirement home and should be able to conduct an investigation in certain cases.
“Respondents expressed strong support for our recommendation, which had been made after a number of cases of mysterious or violent deaths in retirement homes came to light last fall. We would like to see the government’s inertia in this matter overcome due to the results of this survey. The government needs to suggest a mechanism whereby a coroner is advised every time a death occurs in a retirement home,” declared Madelaine Michaud, AQRP president.
The survey revealed that 58% of Quebecers believe that current certification requirements for private retirement homes are inadequate to ensure quality of life in these facilities. “The general population is worried about the lack of certification in too many of these private facilities, as well as the proliferation of media reports outlining abuse cases, deaths or suicides in retirement homes. It is imperative that the government take concrete steps to reassure the population and ensure quality care in retirement homes,” concluded the AQRP president.
Following the presentation of Bill 16, the AQRP made a series of demands on May 12:
· implementation of a loan guarantee program to support retirement homes wishing to attain certification
· checks of judicial records for all employees and volunteers working in retirement homes
· surprise assessment visits to retirement homes
· mandatory training for retirement home employees
· adequate staff ratios, based on numbers of residents.
The AQRP also made the following demands, pertaining to all private or public (residential and long-term care centre) retirement homes:
· routine notification of the coroner’s office, who can then conduct an investigation when a death occurs in a retirement home – or an equivalent measure
· clarification of the complaints handling process for residents
· better follow-up on recommendations for improved care in retirement homes.
Following is the breakdown of survey participants’ responses to the question “In your opinion, is that the requirements for certification of senior citizens residences, currently in force in Quebec, are sufficient to ensure the quality of life in these institutions?”
· Yes, completely: 9%
· Yes, somewhat: 13%
· No, not really: 36%
· No, not at all: 22%
· No opinion : 20%
Following is the breakdown of survey participants’ responses to the question “Do you believe that a coronary should be systematically informed of a death in a senior citizens residence, private or public, and that he can decide to investigate in some cases?”
· Yes, completely: 61%
· Yes, somewhat: 21%
· No, not really: 12%
· No, not at all: 3%
· No opinion: 3%
These results were taken from a scientific study involving 1,000 respondents, conducted by the polling firm L’Observateur between May 19 and 29, 2011. The maximum margin of error for this sample size is 3.2%, 19 times out of 20.