N.L. is ‘not preparing for the future of aging' says advocate in wake of long-term care report

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. A scathing report from Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general into the state of long-term care facilities has advocates calling for action to address problems they say have been years in the making. The 64-page report, released Sept. 3, looked into the state of long-term care facilities in the province. Auditor General Denise Hanrahan's office found problems with extended waitlists, food quality, missing or absent documentation, medication management and staffing. 'Newfoundland and Labrador has the oldest population in Canada. We're not preparing for the future of aging. We're already living it. And now is the time to look at our long-term care practices,' Seniors N.L. CEO Kimberly Leonard told CBC News. Seniors N.L. CEO Kimberly Leonard says she found the contents of the auditor general report alarming. (Madison Taylor/CBC) Leonard said the report, which contained 22 reccomendations, needs to be acted on. 'Our seniors matter. Our families matter. And we need to look and advocate for the residents in long-term care so that they are being taken care of in the way that they deserve to be taken care of.' The report found long-term care standards haven't been comprehensively updated since 2005, something Leonard also took issue with. 'This is 2026, this requires immediate attention,' said Leonard. WATCH | 'Now is the time to look at our long-term care practices, says Seniors N.L. CEO: Seniors' advocacy groups weigh in on scathing AG report | Duration 2:30 The auditor general's report on long-term care homes in N.L. outlined issues across the board, from food quality to staff training. Groups that work with seniors in the province want to see change. The CBC's Madison Taylor reports. Acting Seniors' Advocate Pamela Dawe said she was not surprised by a lot of the details in the report. 'It is what we've been hearing over the years from seniors, families, even workers themselves. I think the main takeaway is there is certainly a lot of room here for improvement when it comes to accountability, oversight, monitoring, those sorts of things,' she told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show on Tuesday. Among a sample of 150 employees across 15 care facilities, the report noted 27 of those employees were missing a criminal record check on file. Thirty-nine of those employees were also missing a vulnerable sector check. Dawe said that detail surprised her, adding 'You should check for these things.' Long-term care oversight currently falls under the Department of Seniors, but was under the portfolio of Health and Community Services from April 2024 to September 2025. The province has accepted the 22 recommendations to address the deficiencies. They range from ensuring that proper processes are implemented and followed, ensuring staffing levels are adequate, proper oversight is established and that the safety of residents is comprehensive. For Connections for Seniors CEO Mohamed Abdallah, there still needs to be accountability. 'I think it's good to have the report but I think there should be a follow-up within a year to see what happened for that report. I think that's the only accountability point that I would emphasize," he said. Abdallah is still optimistic about future changes that can be made to improve conditions, including solutions organizations like his can put forward to the province. 'We will come up with a lot of resources and solutions out there, if we sit down together around the table and try to solve these issues," he said. Leonard wants to see the province move quickly to address the deficiencies, adding the recommendations give them ideas for solutions. "We really need to take a long look at these and create immediate action so that these solutions are put in place," she said. Dawe said she'd like a focus on strengthening accountability and monitoring first. 'There's a lot that needs to be fixed and we can't wait. We have been waiting long enough on this,' said Dawe. She said her office has been clear the province needs for continuum of care legislation — which would set standards for seniors throughout the system, from living independently at home to palliative care — and could improve accountability and provide a legal framework. 'We need it. We need it now.' Seniors Minister Craig Pardy says work ins ongoing to bring about long-term care standards. (Terry Roberts/CBC) Speaking with CBC News Tuesday morning, Seniors Minister Craig Pardy said the province will be working towards implementing the 22 recommendations. He added the report looked at a period of April 2024 to March 2026, so it only included four months the PC Party had been in government. In that period, he said they brought about personal care home standards and work is ongoing for long-term care home standards. 'We certainly know that we've got to look at the standards in our long-term care but we have them completed," said Pardy. "We just need to go through the financial analysis as well as the legislative changes. We know that we need more oversight. We need independent oversight." WATCH | 'There are certain things that are requirements before hiring,' says acting seniors' advocate Pamela Dawe: Missing background checks at long-term care a surprise for seniors' advocate | Duration 1:07 The auditor general's report into the province's long-term care facilities found missing criminal background checks. Seniors' advocate Pamela Dawe says these facilities care for society's most vulnerable, and she was surprised to see these were not adequately done. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.