Released on February 22, 2018
As part of its commitment to improve quality of long-term care in Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Health is asking residents and their families more directly how long-term care is performing across the province.
In 2017, the Ministry of Health and the former health regions (now the Saskatchewan Health Authority) concluded the first Resident and Family Experience Survey. This survey provides a first-hand account of the satisfaction of residents who live in special-care homes, as well as hearing from their families. More than 2,700 residents and 2,400 family members responded to the survey. The results show that 88 per cent of residents and 83 per cent of family members are generally satisfied with their long-care homes.
Concerns shared by residents and family members are considered as opportunities for improvement. Survey results at the facility level were shared with the Saskatchewan Health Authority so they could plan quality improvement work that corresponds to specific facility concerns. The transition to a single health authority has provided an opportunity to change the way long-term care reporting is done.
These surveys will complement the annual Long-Term Care CEO tours. Officials from the new Saskatchewan Health Authority will continue to visit long-term care facilities and report back results. Starting in 2018-19, the ministry will conduct the Resident and Family Experience Survey every two years.
“Since the launch of the CEO Tours in 2013, we’ve learned a lot, which has helped us to make improvements to benefit residents,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “The Resident and Family Experience Surveys give us the opportunity to harness a greater degree of feedback from residents and their families.”
The results of the 2017 CEO tours and the first Resident and Family Experience Survey are now available at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/ministries/health/other-reports/ceo-visits-to-long-term-care-facilities.
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For more information, contact:
Shirley Xie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: shirley.xie@health.gov.sk.ca