Continuing Care
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Alberta's seniors continue to suffer at the expense of corporate profit
Alberta's seniors continue to suffer at the expense of corporate profit
Yesterday, CBC’s investigative unit, Go Public, released a story that showcases the painful reality facing our current elder care system, revealing that an Alberta continuing care facility, Extendicare Athabasca, has been alleged to have rationed diapers, leaving incontinent residents in medical duress.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 24, 2020 -
FOM's response to the AHS review
With the release of the much-awaited performance review of Alberta Health Services (AHS), Albertans will have to wait until May 2020 to fully understand the real life consequences that the recommendations will have on Albertans.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 03, 2020 -
Elder care in Alberta should not be an industry
Elder care in Alberta should not be an industry
Yesterday’s media report on the death of an Alberta senior residing in a for-profit seniors’ facility served as a harrowing example of the real life consequences of the political ideology and short-sighted policy decisions that have shaped Alberta’s continuing care system. “Alberta’s continuing care system is an area that has seen aggressive privatization that has resulted in serious consequences for our seniors,” says Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “We have turned our elder care system into an industry that treats residents as consumers, rather than people deserving of timely and quality care.”
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 27, 2020 -
Cuts to front-line staff is not the solution to balancing the budget and it is not what Albertans voted for
Cuts to front-line staff is not the solution to balancing the budget and it is not what Albertans voted for
On Friday morning, Albertans learned that 500 front-line Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses will lose their jobs over the next three years. The United Nurses of Alberta estimate this loss of staff will equate to more than a million fewer hours of care for patients.“In an already overstretched system, this attempt to save money by eliminating front-line staff can only be seen as nonsensical,” stated Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
November 29, 2019 -
Alberta Budget 2019
Restrained spending in budget 2019 is the wrong prescription for Alberta
Although budget 2019 sees a slight increase in spending in health care (1%), it does not meet inflation and population growth (3.5%). "When a government is not able to provide health care to meet the needs of a growing population, it is a cut," says Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare. "As one goes down line by line through the budget, what we're seeing is a decrease in most areas of the health care budget."
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
October 24, 2019 -
Government-appointed “Blue Ribbon Panel” sets the stage for 4 years of unwarranted austerity budgets
Although health care took a back seat to “jobs, pipelines, economy” during the recent election, it was expected and reasonable to assume that health care should now become a much spoken about subject area.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 03, 2019 -
Good direction for long term care, but beds must be public
MEDIA RELEASE
MARCH 21, 2019
EDMONTON
Advocacy groups: Good direction for long term care, but beds must be public
Today, Premier Rachel Notley announced that if re-elected, the Alberta New Democratic Party is committed to building an additional 2,000 long term care (LTC) beds. The promised $170 million investment is welcome news to a system that is currently facing serious shortages.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 21, 2019 -
Been there, done that: Albertans want strong public health care not privatization
Privatization Ideologues have been set on marketizing our health care system, and yesterday's announcement by the leader of the UCP, Jason Kenney, that he intends to privatize laboratory services in Alberta, is another reminder that this unbridled disdain for our public services is nothing more than a celebration of self-interest and the interests of those who seek to profit from the poor health of others.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 12, 2019 -
Restrained Spending in Budget 2018 Sets Unwelcome Precedent
MEDIA RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2018
RESTRAINED SPENDING IN BUDGET 2018 SETS UNWELCOME PRECEDENT
In the past three budgets, this government has managed to maintain the line of health care spending, staying slightly above population and inflation growth. Budget 2018 represents a concerning trend of spending restraints by only increasing health care spending by 3%, not even meeting population and inflation growth of 3.5%.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 22, 2018 -
Greater Role for Public Sector in Hinton Continuing Care Applauded
Greater Role for Public Sector in Hinton Continuing Care Applauded
Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta welcome a change in direction for continuing care today, with the announcement from Alberta's Ministry of Health that they will now be operating the Mountain View Centre supportive living services in Hinton. The facility is currently operated by the private not-for-profit Good Samaritan Society.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
December 20, 2017
