NL Auditor General finds seniors not getting quality care, service they need in long-term care homes

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewfoundland & LabradorNews NL Auditor General finds seniors not getting quality care, service they need in long-term care homes Report makes recommendation covering oversight, food, level of care, and regulations Author of the article: By Nicholas Mercer Published Sep 04, 2026 7 minute read Newfoundland and Labrador Auditor General Denise Hanrahan speaks to reporters at the House of Assembly in St. John's on Sept. 3. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MERCER/THE TELEGRAM Article content It’s no secret that Newfoundland and Labrador’s (NL) population is growing older by the year. Article content As such, ensuring the oldest residents can live their lives in some form of relative comfort is at the forefront of a new report from the province’s Office of the Auditor General. Article content Article content Released on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 the aim of the report was to determine if long-term care (LTC) residents are being provided quality care that meets their needs, and whether facilities have the proper oversight. Article content Article content There are 3,162 people currently residing in 43 long-term care facilities across the province – 39 of which were included in the audit – across the five health zones. Most of which are funded through taxpayer money under Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS). Article content For those people, there are 3,233 beds available and are being used at 98 per cent capacity as of June 2026. Article content On top of that, it’s projected that NL’s 65-plus population is going to grow and could make up close to 35 per cent of residents in the province by 2043. Article content Work on the report started in April 2025 and compiles information from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026. The auditor general’s team completed audit procedures on 30 homes and did 15 site visits. Article content Article content “I think the report, for me, is a very comprehensive report that shows there’s a lot of places we can do better,” said Auditor General Denise Hanrahan. Article content Read More Report on long-term care and personal care homes released Delivery of mental health, addictions services in NL long-term care is changing Advertisement 1 Article content “There’s a lot of places in the system that I think we can improve, some probably faster than others, but certainly I think this report gives the…