The shortage of nursing home beds — and the number of people waiting for placement to one of those facilities — would appear to be vastly under-reported in Nova Scotia.
That’s because the government’s published waiting list for nursing homes does not include people who’ve been medically discharged from hospital but still occupy an in-patient bed.
That waiting list also does not include individuals designated Priority 1, adults in need of protection, or Priority 2, such as those with relatives already in long-term care or current residents who’ve requested new placements under certain circumstances.
There are between 1,000 to 1,250 people now on the official waiting list.