Proposal for nurse practitioners at long term care homes welcome news at Ailsa Craig groundbreaking

More hands on deck for long term care A proposed bill would see nurse practitioners oversee medical care in nursing homes, CTV London's Bryan Bicknell has more on the impact.

Some reacted positively on Wednesday to news that the provincial government is considering allowing nurse practitioners to oversee medical care at long term care homes, in the absence of a physician.

“It is a welcome idea, to be able to have nurse practitioners in their homes,” said Elaine Shantz, the CEO of Craigholme Long-Term Care Home in Ailsa Craig. “We know that when we are providing care for seniors, a nurse practitioner is able to provide that care – and it adds to the medical resources of our team, and also allows us to have someone, a medical professional onsite,” she added.

Nurse practitioners were allowed to fill the role of medical director during the pandemic, and now that change would be permanent under a proposal by Long-Term Care Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta. Lambton Kent Middlesex PC MPP Steve Pinsonneault says the move is to help with the doctor shortage.

“There is a doctor shortage. They are going to fill that gap. And honestly, they’re doing it now. We’re already setting up facilities where they’re in there. They’re taking on patients,” said Pinsonneault.

Both Pinsonnealt and Shantz spoke with CTV News at the ground-breaking for redevelopment of Craigholme LTC. Construction is underway to add 13 new and 83 redeveloped long term care beds.

“We will be building a beautiful, new 96 bed home. It will feature three home areas, modern administration space, and nursing stations, and a variety of program and service areas,” said Craigholme Board Chair Jennifer Gillies.

North Middlesex Mayor Brian Ropp said it’s important for seniors from the community to be able to stay close to home when they move into long term care.

“This is a part of the fabric of this community, this facility. And there’s many that a lot of us have known that have moved in here,” he explained.

“Locally, people will be able to spend the rest of their lives in a long term care home that is in their community,” added Shantz

The $38 million project was funded in part with a grant of more than $7 million from the provincial government.

Construction is expected to be complete in early 2027.