Cathy Rogers concedes nursing home changes are 'unpopular'
Social Development minister Cathy Rogers acknowledges that reaction to the new policy on nursing home fees in New Brunswick has been "mixed."
"I have seniors who are in the upper income scales and probably upper wealth scales who are saying you know what, this is a very fair policy, and then I have others who are not even going to entertain the idea of touching any assets of any kind in the factoring in of what someone should pay for their own nursing home care," Rogers said in an interview Tuesday morning.
In a news conference on Monday Rogers shared details about the new policy, including the fact that the cap on nursing home fees would go from $113 per day to $175 per day.
Rogers says the change will only affect the highest income earners in the province, something Moncton senior Wayne Harrigan disputes.
He was one of nearly 400 seniors who packed a public meeting in Riverview Monday night.
"The most troubling … is the fact that the government doesn't seem to realize that the current cap of $113 is a lot of money." Harrigan said.
"This is the highest daily fee in Canada and that is without any change in its policy."
"The wealthiest New Brunswickers do not have loved ones in nursing homes. They are able to pay for care. This policy as it is now, as it will change is going to affect ordinary middle class seniors who have saved their money."
Rogers: 'I am listening'
After attending three public meetings, Harrigan says he is struck by the uneasiness seniors are feeling.
"There is a level of anxiety among seniors that I have never seen before. They are unsure what's happening to them but they know that this is not a good thing," he said.
But Rogers argues the changes to the policy won't affect many in the province and only about 13 per cent of the population will be asked to pay more.
"I am listening and I have been listening actually for months." she said.
"All we were asking was from a small percentage of the population, entering nursing homes, to be able to pay a little more if they can. This was all we asked from the outset. "
Rogers says the government is still looking at every option to increase revenue, including a hike to the HST or road tolls.
"I have to work with a budget and in my budget I have a looming demographic demand and pressure that means I need another $300 million to address the growing number of seniors reaching age 70 and 75 in 10 years," she said.
"We have to work for tomorrow not just for today, and yes, some of these are unpopular decisions."
Rogers says long term solutions have to be found within all government departments.
"You can look at this as punishment or you can look at this as fairness and progressiveness.
Harrigan says seniors want to pay their fair share, but feel as though the provincial government is throwing out unsubstantiated numbers.
"We can't have backroom bureaucrats picking numbers out of the air and giving us those numbers and expect us to try to cope with it," Harrigan said.
"Maybe the government could make the effort to revamp the system and have the daily fee of $175 brought down closer to $113."
Harrigan says the new formula has left seniors confused, and he wants assets taken out of the equation completely so people continue to be charged for nursing home care based on income.
"Seniors are anxious, unhappy and feel they are being taken advantage of."
"We don't think seniors should have to fix a financial mess that we didn't create. And now that we're retired, on fixed incomes, we will pay our fair share, we have always paid our fair share, but we're not putting up with this."
