Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

While an increase of 20 minutes a day might not seem like a lot to us, for those in our senior’s care homes, that time could be the difference in helping them continue feeling like a valued member of society


Last Friday, March 1st, the BC Ministry of Health announced that seniors in the interior of BC would be benefiting from a nearly $5.3-million investment for 2018-19 to increase staffing levels, and to make sure seniors would be able to receive increased care in residential care homes.

The $5.3 million in funding was described as an initial investment in a three-year plan to increase the direct care in the Interior Health Authority (IHA) catchment area, and throughout the province ... that to enable reaching a target, or average of, 3.36 care hours daily for each resident, across the
province’s health authorities – that goal to be reached by 2021.

In checking with Interior Health, I asked why this was being announced as an initial investment in the three-year program, and if it would not continue on into the future?

My answer to that question, from IHA Communications, was ... this is ongoing funding to increase and maintain higher staffing levels.

And according to Adrian Dix, Minister of Health:
The target of 3.36 had been set in 2008. In 2017, less than 3 in 20 care homes met the standard, including virtually all the publicly funded beds in private and non-profit care homes. For seniors, this meant below-standard care, fewer baths and a lower quality of life than our parents and grandparents deserve.”

He went on to state, “Our government is committed to delivering on approximately 156,000 more direct-care hours to be provided in Interior Health this fiscal year alone. This increase in care hours means seniors will receive more help with dressing, bathing, eating or taking part in social activities.”

So just how many care homes are there in the region covered by IHA:
In Interior Health there are 38 private care homes with 3,196 publicly-funded long-term care beds. Interior Health owns and operates 39 care homes with 2,454 publicly-funded beds.”, I was told.


Many, like me, may now be wondering if the Ministry of Health, or IHA, would hiring additional staff to provide the increased care ... and specifically if that would extend private care facilities? 

According to IHA,
“Each site will determine how it is adjusting its hours based on increased funding – this could be through hiring additional care aides, increasing hours of part-time and casual staff, adjusting schedules or a combination of all of these”.

They then went on to state:
The initial investment in more staff was for the private facilities as the average hours per day before this new funding was at about 3.15. The additional investment brings funding for private home staffing on average up to 3.29 hours per day as we move towards the Ministry target of 3.36”.

Right now, Interior Health owned and operated care homes are currently providing an average of 3.33 hours per day.  And while private operators would be better able to speak to their specific plans, I was told that IHA’s priority is to ensure the hours meet the new targets.

People living in residential care expect to receive the best day-to-day support possible, and this investment is vital to delivering on the Province’s promise to improve supports for patients outside of hospital,” said Anne Kang, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors. “This funding will help improve the lives of people living in residential care, while supporting the hardworking staff in these facilities.”

Staff at residential care homes work incredibly hard and care a great deal for the seniors they see every day. These investments are more than just numbers — they’re supporting people," added Kang.

Our parents and grand-parents deserve the best care possible, and so I applaud the government in the steps being taken to increase the time being provided. 

While an increase of 20 minutes a day might not seem like a lot to us, for those in senior’s care homes around the province, and here in Kamloops where I live, that time could make all the difference in helping them continue feeling like a valued member of society. 

It won’t be just the extra bath or help with eating .... the time to share a laugh and a smile, or a few minutes of conversation, will also be invaluable.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops, and those are my thoughts.  I’d love to hear what you might have to say so feel free to use the Comments Section below.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PEATS: I am writing with a critical concern regarding the imminent closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic, a vital healthcare facility in our community

The following is a copy of a letter sent to me, which was sent to BC’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix. It is with regards to the impending closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic in Dawson Creek.   Dear Minister,   I am writing to you today with a critical concern regarding the imminent closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic, a vital healthcare facility in our community. The closure, scheduled for the summer of 2024, is a result of the utterly burdensome terms and conditions imposed by the bureaucratic Northern Health. As a result, Dawson Creek stands to lose four doctors who have made this city their home, and who wish to continue serving the people of our community.   The impending closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic is a significant blow to our city. Not only will it result in the loss of highly qualified and dedicated healthcare professionals, but it will also deprive thousands of Dawson Creek residents of access to their primary physicians. At a time when healthcare se

Selina Robinson: "You broke my heart . . ." (The Real Story)

The mildly Zionist, innocuously leftish and now ousted advanced education minister’s letter to her New Democratic Party caucus colleagues, explaining why she has resigned the caucus to sit as an independent. The letter is an historic document, an artifact of the disgraceful cultural moment we’re living through. It’s important. It’s also a scorcher. It’s gathering a heck of a lot of attention . I’m printing it in full here. I’ve been insisting that what happened to Robinson is a much bigger deal and a completely different story than the one we’d all been led to believe. The necessary background: My piece in the National Post: The despicable untruths behind Selina Robinson's political lynching . More importantly , a Real Story investigation: The Problem With The Selina Robinson Story. . . It wasn't true. What follows is the story of what really happened. Let’s just get into it. Apart from punctuation and spelling I replicate the letter faithfully, with some further comm

Long-time former BC Liberal supporter says, I am definitely not hanging in there with BC United

                              BC United leader Kevin Falcon I recently asked a political acquaintance of mine, about their current involvement with BC United.   I was much surprised with the response given the BC Liberals had been the recipient of a lot of their time and energy in the past. By request, their comments are posted anonymously : I am definitely not hanging in there with BC United. Kevin’s poor judgement in ousting John Rustad from Caucus, and then publicly humiliating him, might be the most inept thing I have seen in BC politics ... and I’ve been involved in BC politics for a number of years! I still think the impetus was John‘s involvement in the Ellis Ross leadership campaign for the BC Liberal Party, and how successful and respected (despite not winning) it was. I am uncertain about the tenor of the current Conservative movement in North America. The once proud Republican Party in the United States has allowed itself to be led by a person who is morally, intell

Labels

Show more