Take the private sector out of long-term care

Ultimately, private operators are driven by one thing — profit. And therein lies the problem

I just wanted to say: Here we go again.

If you want to understand the tragedy unfolding at long-term care homes for seniors across this country during this COVID-19 crisis, you need look no further than Linda McQuaig’s recent stunning book “The Sport and Prey of Capitalists.” (A great read, but do have a stiff drink nearby). She dives deep into the travesties of the capitalist system, its horrors and its overarching greed, greed that transforms human beings into true monsters.

There have been systematic problems with these homes for decades. The COVID-19 crisis has simply put a telescope and the brightest of spotlights on the problems. As McQuaig deftly explains, whenever you put profit motives ahead of public service and public trust, you have a recipe for disaster. The mantra of the private sector is, and always will be, “the bottom line.” Everything it does is channeled through this lens. There is no other motive. There is no other reason for operating. As long as these homes continue being run using this private sector model, notwithstanding government inspections, notwithstanding regulations, notwithstanding promises and pledges, there will be problems of this nature. It is the nature of the beast. Oh, and what a beast it is.

You may ask then, so, what is the solution? As I see it, and as McQuaig so clearly explains, these services must be trusted to the public sector, if they are going to function for the benefit and good of the people they are intended to serve. Now, I can hear the old and worn mantra being muttered about how governments cannot do things as “efficiently” as the private sector. Governments are big, cumbersome, wasteful and so on. Of course, the public sector may be these things to some degree. But so is the private sector. You only need to look at the bonus structures in most corporations and companies, very often not tied to actual performance, but rather to entitlement. Really, no contest there.

I believe, and I’m sure McQuaig would back this up, the only long-term solution for the reduction of future tragedies in these homes is to place them in the public sector. To take the profit motive out of the equation completely. Only then will our most vulnerable receive the modicum of respectful and dignified care they are entitled to. Please note, I’m not suggesting for a moment that they should be “free.” Monies will still be paid. The difference, and it is a big one, would be that the monies paid by these elderly and fragile citizens would go directly toward their care and comfort, and not into offshore bank accounts in the Cayman Islands.

The public sector has done an admirable job of building our roads, our bridges, our schools, maintaining our streets and green spaces, sweeping our garbage out of sight. The list goes on. I am convinced this same public sector will do a much better job of taking care of our most vulnerable than has been clearly demonstrated on the part of the private sector by the recent crisis.

This is not rocket science. It only requires empathy to replace greed.