Home care, long-term care advocates say government is neglecting seniors in Alberta
The AUPE Women’s Committee and Friends of Medicare cohosted a panel discussion, Strike a Change for Alberta Seniors, on the International Day of Older Persons at AUPE Headquarters.
This event highlighted the need for seniors to have at least 4.5 hours of direct and accountable care.
AUPE Vice-President Sandra Azocar, said since the elimination of the previous minimum nursing care hour in the legislation and policy there have not been any improvements to the way Alberta provides care to seniors. If anything, she said there has been a further deterioration of seniors' care.
“This forum is about giving a voice to the people who are impacted by the government’s neglect of serious issues in seniors care,” Azocar said. “More than 100 people gathered today – from experts in the field, seniors, advocates and workers on the frontlines – because seniors’ care has been in crisis for decades and it’s only gotten worse since the government’s changes.”
Co-hosting the event, Friends of Medicare Executive Director Chris Gallaway said home care and continuing care in Alberta is in dire need of support and the government needs to act now.
“I’ve been meeting with care workers across the province and what I’m hearing is both heartbreaking and incredibly troubling,” Gallaway said. “There are actions that the government can take today like reversing their removal of minimum hours of care.
“Mandating 4.5 hours of care and investing in adequate staffing levels means families know loved ones are being taken care of and seniors receive the respect and dignity they deserve.”
Since launching the Strike a Change for Alberta Seniors Campaign last year, more than a thousand signatures have been collected on the letter for minimum hours of care for seniors. For more information about the Strike a Change for Alberta Seniors or to sign the petition, visit: https://www.aupe.org/news-and-publications/campaigns/support-albertas-seniors
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