‘I’ve been in tears for two years’: Senior says travel time is cutting into home care visits

Jeff Keele reports on the Winnipeg senior who says homecare workers looking after her husband are in too big a rush.

For Sylvia Mutcher, looking after her husband Kenneth is like a full-time job.

The 92-year-old is living with a number of health issues.

“He’s got three types of cancer, four pinpoint strokes, a heart problem, water around the lung with cancer particles. He has to drain it about once a month,” said Mutcher.

Mutcher said she can’t do as much as she used to, like when she tries to sit him up in bed.

“I used to pull him by the arms and I said, ‘No, I can’t do that anymore.’ It hurts, he’s heavy.”

So for the last two weeks, they’ve had home care workers come to the house, four times a day, to lend a hand. But Mutcher said she’s noticed they’re always in a hurry.

“They rush in, do this, this and that, and before you know it, they’re gone.”

Mutcher said she’s been told by multiple home care workers they can only stay for 15 minutes, and that includes travel time between appointments. In some cases, she said they’re coming from across the neighbourhood. She feels it doesn’t leave enough time to properly care for her husband.

“That’s a long ways between stop signs and lights and everything.”

A spokesperson from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority sent CTV News the following statement:

“Timing of home care visits is based on ensuring that clients receive the most appropriate care possible for their needs. All staff working in home care have guidelines to follow for their scheduled visits based on client assessments, but those times can be altered depending on the immediate needs of a client.”

Mutcher is trying to get Kenneth into a care home, but she hasn’t heard yet if a bed is available. She hopes there is one soon because it’s getting harder to do a lot of this on her own.

“I’ve been in tears for two years,” said Mutcher.

The spokesperson for the health authority also said they encourage families to reach out to their case coordinators to have any concerns addressed.