Stephanie McDonald
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 17, 2007

IQALUIT - Two continuing care facilities are on track to open in October 2008, which will ensure that Nunavummiut will be able to be cared for close to home, rather than be sent to out of territory facilities.

First announced in 2005, the foundations have now been laid for facilities in Gjoa Haven and Iglulik. Each will have 10 beds and cost $10.5 million.

The centres will fill the need for patients who require 24-hour care and support, seven days a week.

Currently, the only facilities serving these patients are in Iqaluit and Chesterfield Inlet, and both are full.

"For the most part, we've been able to support elders in their own homes," said Dave Richardson assistant deputy minister of operations with Health and Social Services.

Yet, as Nunavummiut age, the demand for continuing care centres increases.

Up to now, this demand has been met by home care workers in each of the territory's communities, who cook, clean and provide medical services to those in need.

"We seem to be managing with the combination of home care services and existing facilities," Richardson said.

The two new centres will be for territorial use, but the first priority is to provide spots for people within Gjoa Haven and Iglulik and those from surrounding communities. People prefer to be treated in their own regions, Richardson said.

"It's hard on family for travel ... We want to be able to locate people where it maintains the family contact as much as possible," he said.

There are additional continuing care centres in Arviat, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit, for patients with less demanding needs. In all, there are 64 people in these facilities in Nunavut.

In the 2004 throne speech, four facilities were promised to be built over the coming four years.

So far, only plans for the facilities in Gjoa Haven and Iglulik are under construction.

"We're still waiting for the opportunity to bring forward the other two," Richardson said, adding that programs still need to be put in place for training new workers.

"Right now there is no facility in Gjoa Haven or close by," the community's SAO Raymond Kamookak Sr. said. "Most of the people are sent out to other communities, the NWT, or other provinces."

Not only will the centre provide employment opportunities, but when it opens, it will mean that community members can stay close to home.

"That's the exciting part," Kamookak said.

For those with family members in out-of-territory facilities, the Department of Health and Social Services provides one to two visits each year.

The department also provides video conferencing, so people can communicate with family members in the south from their communities.

"Where it's not possible to support people any longer in their own homes, having these additional 20 beds in the territory will take a lot of pressure away from considering care out of territory," Richardson said.

Health and Social Services is working with Nunavut Arctic College to train community care workers for the new facilities. At least eight positions will be created in both.