Released on April 14, 2014
Saskatchewan residents now have access to more information about personal care homes in the province. Personal care home inspection results are now available online after recent changes to legislation were made to allow inspection information to be shared with the public.
“Online access to the most recent inspection results will help families select a personal care home,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “It will also provide increased incentive for operators to provide the best care possible.”
Personal care homes are privately owned and operated and are licensed and monitored by the Ministry of Health. There are many requirements personal care homes must follow. During an inspection of a personal care home, consultants look at a number of areas including resident care, care records, food served, recreational activities and health and safety.
The inspection results posted online indicate what standards were not met at the time of the inspection and if they have been addressed. If deficiencies are identified during the course of an inspection, ministry officials work with the personal care homes toward correcting deficiencies.
Currently, there are 243 personal care homes in operation across the province. They provide lodging, meals, and assistance with, or supervision of, daily living and personal care. They are different from long-term care
homes like special care homes or nursing homes, which are part of the publicly-funded health system and typically serve residents with heavier care needs.
The change to legislation to allow for the posting of inspection results follows recommendations from the Provincial Ombudsman and Provincial Auditor to make more information about personal care homes available to the public. The current format is an interim step as the Ministry of Health moves forward with automating the inspection process to enable the posting of information in a more timely and efficient manner later this year.
To view personal care home inspection results, please visit www.health.gov.sk.ca/personal-care-homes.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca