Editor:
There is indeed alarming news in the newly-released report of the provincial Seniors Advocate, Isobel Mackenzie.
From her 20 years of experience working in home care, she understands the importance of asking the right questions, and why the assessment records can help pin down possible shortcomings in the system.
Premature assignment to a residential care facility, over-reliance on calming drugs for agitated individuals, antidepressants that miss the mark, and a woeful lack of trained therapists to keep those recovering from surgery moving and regaining their strength these are all serious deficiencies, and are more prominent in B.C. than in Alberta or Ontario, as her report shows.
While there are deficiencies in the province overall, analysis of the available data can’t tell us how our local care facilities and home care services measure up. For this we need thoughtful, fair-minded, open discussion of the issues raised by the Advocate among local users of health services, and also among health authority staff at all levels.
Anecdotally, one hears very good reports from family members of seniors in care on the Sunshine Coast. But we also hear anxious questions about availability, affordability and quality of care services as the boomers look to the future, not to mention stories of long waits by current older residents to get into the limited spaces here. Is there somewhere we could get together to talk about all this?
Sue Jackel, Sechelt
