Perth Wellington's MPP is responding to reports that the province does not see Perth County as a priority for new long-term care beds.
Randy Pettapiece says long-term care administrators in Perth County have been told not to even bother applying.
Pettapiece calls that a massive mistake, adding the current bed ratio looks at the number of beds per 1,000 people over 75. He says that does not account for the current demographic shifts to rural and small-town Ontario.
Pettapiece adds there is a growing number of people under age 75 that still need long-term care for chronic illness or disabilities.
He adds that the bed ratio does not look at the long travel distances, often in dangerous winter conditions, for family members to visit loved ones.
He supports local long-term care administrators in their efforts to get new beds.
Pettapiece says after years of neglect, the Perth Wellington area is seeing a long-term care crisis, with increasing new admissions, and increasingly complex needs.
He says costs continue to escalate, but funding has been flatlined