$30K ad campaign about nursing home changes irks seniors

A seniors advocate says the provincial government should explain changes to its nursing home policy in person, instead of using an ad campaign.

The Gallant government introduced changes to how seniors' assets will be considered when calculating how much they should pay toward costs if they need to be placed in a nursing home.

The changes met with so much opposition from seniors the government has now launched a $30,000 advertising campaign called "Get the Real Facts on Nursing Home Residents' Rights."

Cecile Cassista, the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents Rights, said she doesn't agree with that decision.

"That's really astounding — an ad campaign that they did to take on this issue," said Cassista.

"They should be going and attending the meetings where the coalition is and answering the questions.

"Spending taxpayers' money is not ... the way to go."

'Not partisan advertising'

But Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers says it's the government's responsibility to ensure all New Brunswickers have factual information.

"We have been proactive in providing precise and concise information on the government's website and through social media," Rogers said in an emailed statement. But much "disinformation" has been spread in recent weeks, she said.

"That's why we undertook an information campaign through traditional media — radio and newspapers — in order to ensure we did all we could to reach seniors and their families so they have answers to their questions," said Rogers.

"This is not partisan advertising. This is an information campaign to inform people and give them the facts about the policy."

Cassista has been travelling the province and holding public information sessions for seniors called "Keep Hands Off Seniors Assets."

She says seniors have many questions about their assets and how changes to the nursing home policy affect them.

Everett Brooks is one of more than 85 people who attended one of Cassista's sessions in Moncton on Wednesday and isn't sure what to think about the government's ad campaign.

If it was informative and truthful it would be worth it. I'm afraid that it probably will fall short of that.- Everett Brooks, senior

"If it was informative and truthful it would be worth it," Brooks said.

"I'm afraid that it probably will fall short of that."

Brooks says he's not impressed with the changes the government is implementing — like raising the cap on the daily nursing home fee to $175 from $113 for those who can afford it.

"It was a little bit Draconian if you want to put it nicely. It's just a government grab to ease their way out of a problem and we as seniors are paying the consequences."

Joan Freeborn and Barbara Rombough attended the meeting together. Freeborn says she doesn't like what's been happening.

"Scary. It's very unfair isn't it? We have paid and paid and paid and paid and they're still robbing us," Freeborn said.

Rombough says meetings like Cassista's are important.

"It's hard to know what to believe, who to ask, where do you get information?" Rombough said.

"So I feel being connected here today and continuing to be connected and writing letters and calling MLAs. You know, try and find your answers yourself."

Cassista says she'll continue to hold her public sessions to try and provide as much information as possible.