Ombudsman issues first part of report after investigating state of seniors' care in the province
Source: Burnaby Now
Good, but not good enough. That's some of the reaction stirred up by the provincial ombudsman's recommendations on improving rights for seniors in residential care.
The suggestions are a step in the right direction but not enough to deal with cuts to health care and lack of affordable housing, according Elsie Dean, a Burnaby seniors' advocate. Dean works with Women Elders in Action, a group for female seniors.
On Dec. 17, ombudsman Kim Carter released the first of two reports as part of her systemic investigation into seniors' care. Carter called for the government to draft up a bill of rights for seniors in residential care, ensuring it's displayed prominently in seniors' facilities. She also wants a website listing comprehensive and comparable information about seniors' care facilities, listing things like per diem government funding, staffing levels and the number of daily care hours each resident gets. The idea is to make it easier for seniors and their families to make informed decision about care facilities. Also, she wants an expanded role for resident and family councils, entrenched in legislation, and support for the development of regional family councils.
"For the first time, it has come out that there is inadequate care of seniors, especially needy seniors," Dean said, adding she was very pleased with the recommendations but pointed out the government is agreeing to follow through with four out of 10.
"I don't think it's good enough," Dean said, referring to how seniors struggle with limited incomes, lack of affordable housing and cuts to health care.
Meanwhile, the B.C. Nurses' Union issued a statement, also supporting the recommendations but saying they don't go far enough.
"Nurses applaud ombudsman Kim Carter's recommendations," said union president Debra McPherson.
She called on the government to follow through with all of the recommendations and wants Carter's next report to go even further.
"Nurses are now hoping that the ombudsman's second report will call on the government to stop slashing seniors' services and reinstate the programs it has already cut."
Christine Nidd of the B.C. Care Providers Association said her organization would release a full response to Carter's report in January.
Carter started investigating seniors' care in August 2008.
Her findings and recommendations were from the first of two planned reports.
The second and final report addressing a broader range of seniors' care options should be released in spring 2010.
OMBUDSMAN KIM CARTER OUTLINED THREE MAIN FINDINGS, RELEASED DEC. 17:
- The Health Ministry and the Healthy Living and Sport Ministry have not adequately identified the province's commitment to care and rights for seniors in residential health facilities.
- They have not ensured that the public can get adequate information about residential care facilities so seniors and their families can plan for and make informed decisions about residential health care.
- Resident and family councils are important for ensuring the well-being of seniors in residential care facilities, and the two ministries have not taken steps to ensure that the resident and family councils are adequately supported.
Carter came up with 10 recommendations to help fix the problems. The key ones are:
- to set up a bill of rights for seniors in residential care and to make sure it's posted in a prominent place in every facility. (The government has agreed to this one.)
- a provincial website be created so people can look up comprehensive, comparable information on residential care.
- an expanded role for resident and family council entrenched in legislation and support for the development of those councils.
There are 10 recommendations in all, four of which the government has agreed to.
For the full list, see the website at www.ombudsman.bc.ca.
