Seniors
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 30 September 2015 16:30
- Written by editor
Paov -- This year I heard from a home support worker who visits a senior woman living alone in her home. She told me that above anything else, this senior just needs someone to sit and hold her hand because she is lonely and isn’t sure she wants to keep on living.
The home support worker said she can barely stand to go to the woman’s house because under the strictly limited care plan and very short time she’s allowed to spend with the woman, she can’t - in fact, she’s not allowed - to sit down and listen, even for five minutes. So the worker comes, does a few short tasks, and leaves the woman to sit alone and isolated.
Our report (http://www.bchealthcoalition.ca/seniors) this year found that this is a tragically common scenario - in... many ways we are dealing with a broken system of support for seniors. Lack of care for seniors at home and in their communities leaves them unsupported, family caregivers overburdened, and costly hospital services overcrowded.
The thing is, this isn’t a problem unique to B.C. All across Canada, seniors are struggling to get the support they need as they age.
While there is a very important role for provincial governments to play, federal leadership is desperately needed to effectively support our aging population.
That’s why I’m asking you to join me in pledging to vote for a national seniors strategy in the October election. Even if you’ve decided who you’ll vote for already, pledging your name now will help us elect a government who will lead on seniors care, and help send a clear message to the federal government post-election: you must lead on seniors care. Can you join me in pledging now?
Not only is this an issue of quality of life for Canadians, it’s an economic one. The Canadian Medical Association estimates that if we had the home and community care infrastructure to look after seniors who are currently warehoused in Canadian hospitals, we could free up $2.3 billion a year in our health care system. [1]
As an occupational therapist I know that when the basic supports aren’t in place for seniors like meal preparation and help getting out of the house, they end up in hospital where all to often their health deteriorates.
We are closer than ever to getting a national strategy for seniors care in Canada: already, two of the four main parties have promised a national plan for seniors care and we could see others join in before October 19th. Add your pledge now to make sure seniors care gets better after this election.
8 in 10 Canadians aged 45 and over worry about the quality of health care they can expect as they age [2]. That is an absolute shame.
I want to live in a country where people can age
with dignity in their homes and communities. Let’s make sure
that’s a reality together.
Please join me now: www.votepublichealthbc.ca/#pledge
With thanks,
Edith MacHattie, BC Health Coalition co-chair
Sources:
[1, 2] www.cma.ca/En/Lists/Medias/cma-national-report-card-2015.pdf
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British Columbia Health Coalition · 3102 Main St, 302,
Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7, Canada
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