A Saskatchewan man has been told to move out of Weyburn’s Special Care Home despite his family saying he would not receive the care he requires elsewhere.
Fred Sandeski, 71, lives with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is legally blind. He requires an oxygen tank to help him breathe and he struggles to walk more than 20 feet without assistance.
He was moved into the special care home after his wife, Teresa, got sick last year.
“[The caregivers] all agree I should live here, but I don’t meet the criteria yet,” Fred told reporters Wednesday.
According to the Ministry of Health, long-term care is intended for people with high or complex care requirements that cannot be safely managed at home, even with home care or other supports.
Long-term care facilities also offer respite care: short-term, temporary stays designed to support individuals who normally live at home but require care when their primary caregiver is unavailable or needs a break.
“I have to be sicker. So I am going home,” Fred said.
Fred and Teresa’s story first came to light in January when the couple made their way to the legislature to speak to representatives.
At the time, Fred had been living in respite care for some time but he and his wife were struggling to pay the out-of-pocket expenses.
Now Teresa has recovered from her surgery and Fred was told he would have to move back home on Wednesday.
He was greeted by a handful of friends and family when he left the building.
“I don’t know what else we can do,” Fred said. “We’re just going to go home and do the best we can.”
The Sandeskis gave glowing reviews of the staff at the facility and the care Fred received during his tenure.
However, they say the situation will be much different at home.
“Home care will come in on a restricted schedule,” Fred explained. “But their hands are tied to a lot of things.”
“They will come in and make sure I’m breathing, give me a pat on the head and then they’re gone,” he added.
Fred also said he is often left alone when he’s at home.
“Then there’s nobody there. I could pass away in my sleep,” he said. “That scares me. I don’t want to die all by myself. And that bothers me.”
Teresa believes her husband would receive better care if he stayed at the facility.
“At home, he runs short of breath quickly,” she said. “His blood sugar drops really, really fast. And with him being here, [nurses] are on top of things.”
CTV News reached out to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) which operates the Special Care Home, but the inquiry was directed to the Ministry of Health.
Minister of Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Lori Carr was unavailable to answer questions surrounding the situation, but the ministry did provide a written statement.
“It would be inappropriate to provide details about specific individuals and their private health information,” the statement read.
The NDP opposition feels this situation points to a larger gap in seniors care in Saskatchewan.
“There are massive shortages in long term care,” NDP Seniors Critic Keith Jorgenson said. “The government is doing a number of things to try and put a band aid on a big wound.”
Fred hopes his story spells larger change for other seniors in his position.
“The government [has] to start realizing they’re putting too many barriers on the low-income sector altogether,” he said. “Seniors particularly, because this is ridiculous.”
“But what I’m afraid of is that I’m going to get sicker,” Fred added.
The Ministry of Health and SHA say they are in contact with the Sandeskis to discuss the appropriate services that are available for Fred.
