EDMONTON — Every October 1 is recognized as the International Day of Older Persons. This year’s theme is The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives. Today, Friends of Medicare are renewing our calls for the provincial government to rethink our continuing care and home care systems by implementing long-overdue improvements to meet the needs of the growing population requiring these crucial health care services.

EDMONTON — Bargaining is ongoing at a number of AgeCare continuing care facilities in Alberta, where staff have not had a contract since 2022. The union representing these workers, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, has issued a formal complaint over bargaining delays, and has reported the employer has offered meager wage increases of just 1% over four years. They also report that there exist “significant disparities” in benefit levels between AgeCare, a for-profit continuing care operator, and Alberta’s publicly-operated Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Carewest.

EDMONTON — Yesterday afternoon, the Premier and her Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services held a large news conference simply to announce that they are launching a navigation portal for those seeking to access continuing care and assisted living options in Alberta.

Home care, long-term care advocates say government is neglecting seniors in Alberta

Health Coalitions from across Canada issued a joint statement in advance of the gathering of First Ministers and the Council of the Federation:

EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare and activists within the disability community are returning to the Alberta Legislature today to renew our calls on the UCP government to improve our home care system. In March 2024 this petition was first tabled in the Legislature. More than a year later, our calls for improved home care funding and services in Alberta have remained ignored by this government. As of today, our petition has reached over 37,000 signatures in support, and will be tabled again in the Legislature today following Question Period.

EDMONTON — Today, after considerable delay, the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services updated Albertans on their plan for continuing care, unveiling a new logo and a new name: Assisted Living Alberta. This announcement continues the government’s chaotic restructuring of health care in Alberta. 

EDMONTON — December 3 is an important day to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It’s a day to learn but also a day to act. 

Because the truth is, here in Alberta, there is much work to do to ensure folks living with disabilities can live life with the full dignity and respect they deserve. The supports, health care services, and legislative frameworks needed for full participation in our province are still not in place. Below are some ways you can act in solidarity with Albertans with disabilities on this important day.

EDMONTON — Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare are raising the alarm following Premier Smith’s private remarks today at the Alberta Continuing Care Association’s Annual Conference. The Premier championed the explicit privatization and “uberization” of continuing care, signalling further restructuring and for-profit care in the immediate future.

EDMONTON — Beginning today on the International Day of the Older Persons and continuing all week, Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare are releasing harrowing stories and videos from seniors and Albertans who are experiencing the current crisis in seniors care. They are standing with seniors to send letters to the provincial government calling for minimum staffing hours so that Albertans receive the care they deserve.