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2 smoke and mirrors is the < way I would describe the 2 Health Restructuring Report g The headlines boasted of a hosâ€" w pital saved and a $78â€"4 million * boost to health care, a cancer g centre, MRI and the closing of 2 267 chronic care beds. The last Q piece of information may have 4 caused you to wonder? Wasn‘t it just recently pointed out that acute care beds were ued up with non acute patients? Wasn‘t there Don‘t be fooled by the Restructuring Commission‘s smoke and mirrors #1 Ontario grown LETTERS T0 THE EDITOR ROSE SPECIAL * Lanterns * Statuary * Birdbaths * Fountains * Japanese Lanterns * Wind Chimes * Sun Dials SPECIAL P 20% OFF PLASTIC URNS & WINDOW BOXES 20% OFF WOODEN WINDOW BOXES TOP SOIL â€" 3or _ 2.99 ea. 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However, as many people heard at the Waterloo meeting (while quantity lasts) just a banner headline about the need and will to open, even temporarily, 1,700 longâ€"term beds by the Minister of Health? 24.99 reg. 10.99 5 or more 5.99 ea. * % reap meat of the Fair Share, longâ€"term care providers may have their own agenda Longâ€"term care was initially defined as being mainly custodial care as opposed to restorative or theraâ€" peutic. Thus, there is very limâ€" ited professional resources available, and not guaranteed to be on site for 24 hours a day, yet they advocate that they should handle medically chalâ€" lenging cases. So who is pickâ€" ing up the tab? Private duty or 4 for 2 for 9.99 9.99 When the report talks of reducing chronic care beds and the Miruster of Health talks of temporarily opening 1,700 longâ€"term beds, the public should be aware that most nursing home beds are run for profit. The usual figure used has been 80 per cent, but I think this is low. It will likely be these owners who will make up the more permanent longâ€" term beds in communities, after the temporary fix. 1 expect this figure now includes returement homes, which are also private in most cases. So who is really being helped and at whose expense? As a longâ€"time advocate for quality care for seniors and the staff may be part of their answer, but is that what the patient deserves? 95 Klng St. N. (corner of King & Young) Uptown Waterloo 886â€"8244 Now Available NOW OPEN LKEEP COOL â€"‘ & SAVE! PLENTY OF PARKING AT BACK « ORDER NOW AND MAKE _ NO rayments YVITHE * NO mrerest / L INTHL SEPT. "98 oc 4 V Chronic care was set up for complex cases, with profesâ€" sional staff and disciplines to meet the complex needs. The community supported places like Freeport hospital being fral that require health care, 1 am very concerned with the loss of chronic beds. The longâ€" term care program and funding is not designed to support indiâ€" viduals with complex theraâ€" peutic needs. That is what chronic care beds can provide, cost effectively, as it has all the needed resources available The care and services needed for these patients is truly intenâ€" sive and specialized and I have worked within this sector for over a decade. Having worked and taught within the longâ€" term sector as well, 1 know the differences. Measures FINE FABRICS Don‘t let the smoke blin you to the truth. The Resiru turing Commission may nut h. dazzling us with brilliance, hi it may be baffling you with the other stuff. Their numbers cerâ€" tainly appear baffling to me and disturbing. We have not reached our Fair Share yet in my opinion and have lost a tremendous amount. We deserve better than underserâ€" vicing, as well as underfundâ€" ing. built because they knew : be true then and it is even true now 75 King St. S., Suite 201, Waterloo, N2J1P2, our eâ€"mail address is editor@waterlooâ€" chronicle.com, and our fax number is 886â€"9383. forms. Our mailing address in so please be brief. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other The Waterloo Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor They should be signed with name, address and phone number and will be verilied for accuracy. No unsigned letâ€" ters will be published. Submisâ€" sions may be edited for length, Judy Greenwoodâ€"Speers, RN., B.A. in gerontology, Waterloo Letters policy