TORONTO - Elderly couples in Ontario long-term care homes will no longer have to pay extra just to live in the same room, Health Minister Deb Matthews promised Monday.
"What we need to do is encourage couples who want to be together in long-term care homes to have that opportunity," said Matthews.
"I think it's the least we can do."
The minister announced she was changing the rules after the New Democrats raised the case of Paul and Marjory Springer of Sudbury, who have been married 66 years but couldn't find a long-term care room together in their community.
They finally found one in Arthur, near Kitchener, but because they requested a shared room, which is considered semi-private, they would have lost $130 a month the province gives seniors in basic ward care. They also would have had to pay about $500 more just for the semi-private room, added NDP health critic France Gelinas.
"Their request to stay together in the same room is costing them more money than they can afford," Gelinas told the legislature.
"Can the minister explain why seniors like Marjory and Paul are being told to pay up or live apart for their final years?"
People in long-term care in Ontario pay $1,614 a month to stay in a four-bed ward, and $1,857 each for semi-private care.
Seniors give up their pensions when they move into long-term care, and if their income doesn't cover the cost, the government makes up the difference.
The Springers' family was told the couple would be separated again after their savings run out and they could no longer afford to pay extra for anything above basic ward care.
The Liberal government moved quickly to defuse the issue, insisting family reunification was a key part of its long-term care strategy.
"I read the story of Marjory, Paul and their family, and it is indeed a story that calls out for a response," Matthews told the legislature.
"I'm very, very happy today to tell you that we are going to be changing the rules so that couples who are living their final years in a long-term care home will be able to share a room together for as long as they live."
Gelinas welcomed the help for the Springers, but said there were many other elderly couples who've been waiting years to get a long-term care room in the same facility.
"I have clients who have been apart for over five years in Sudbury, asking for spousal reunification, and they can't get together," complained Gelinas.
"I'm happy for the Springers, really happy. But why is it that spousal reunification is at the bottom of the list when it comes to who gets what long-term care bed?"
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has a clear policy that spousal reunification is a very high priority, insisted Matthews.
"That didn't exist before ... so now we have put it as a high priority," she said.
"I'm happy to look into the situation (because) if it's not happening we need to understand why it's not being applied and see what we can do to fix that."
The government is also moving to eliminate four-bed wards from long-term care homes as they're renovated, added Matthews.
"There will no longer be four-bed wards in long-term care homes, but in the interim, we're going to make sure no matter what home you're in, if you're a couple and you want to be together in the same room, we're going to remove the financial penalties associated with that."
