Some shocking numbers presented to Bruce County when it comes to waiting lists for Gateway Haven in Wiarton and Brucelea Haven in Walkerton.
The administrator of the Gateway Charlie Young says between the two facilities, there is a waiting list of over 100 applicants.
He says in some cases, waiting times could be two years or more.
Young says there’s been a spike in applications and he suspects it has something to do with recently announced provincial regulations in the operation of long term care homes.
Young surmises some of the homes that can’t meet the regulations in the allotted time have simply closed up shop or re-allocated their patients to other facilities.
Young says both facilities in Bruce County are pretty well at 100 per cent occupancy.
Some county councillors mused that the numbers show a need for a third long term care facility in Bruce County but the Southwest LHIN is already on record as saying such a place won’t be built in this area for the next 15 years at least.
