Saskatchewan's Minister of Health Dustin Duncan recently released feedback on the conditions in long-term care facilities in the province.

The findings were based on feedback from each health regions CEO and was the result of facility tours by senior leadership in each respective health region.

"The results of this review vary greatly across the province, but overall it shows that we need to do better for seniors in need of our care, especially for the vulnerable seniors in our long-term care facilities," said Duncan.

The facility tours identified both positives and negatives within the province's long-term care facilities. The health region CEOs identified the Resident and Family Councils, the dedication of staff, the beneficial impact of resident-centred recreation programs and the positive role played by volunteers as having a positive impact on the facilities.

Challenges faced by the facilities includes food (quality, variety and meal times), care issues (complexity, behavior management and delays in provision of care), safety (resident needs and staff training), resident mix (placing young with older, frail residents), and aging infrastructure.

Duncan said the Saskatchewan government is designating $10-million to address urgent issues identified by these reports, as a way to transform the province's long-term care system. The Urgent Issues Action Fund will address priority issues identified by health regions including purchasing required equipment, more baths, improved nutrition and training to deal with residents with dementia.