Public pressure needed to protect seniors

BC Ombudsperson releases recommendations on seniors care; health ministries fail to implement majority of recommendations.

In response to the BC Ombudsperson’s report on seniors care, Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says that the BC Liberal government is not treating seniors with the respect they deserve.

Entitled ‘The Best Care: Getting it Right for Seniors in British Columbia’, the report authored by Ombudsperson Kim Carter outlines a number of failings in residential care, and lays out ten recommendations to the Ministry of Health Services and the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport to improve the quality of life for frail and vulnerable seniors in care.

“The Ombudsperson worked closely with the health ministries to implement the recommendations before releasing this report, but unfortunately the ministries have failed to comply with the majority of the recommendations,” said Macdonald.

Only four of the recommendations have been implemented.

Key recommendations such as the development of a reliable and objective process to monitor and evaluate seniors care and public reporting of the results of that monitoring have been rejected by government.

“The role of the Ombudsperson is to identify issues and to make recommendations to improve government services. Ms. Carter was becoming increasingly concerned about a number of issues relating to seniors care. She has done the work to develop solutions, but the government is choosing to ignore those solutions.”

In her report, Ms. Carter states that she is disappointed that many of her recommendations have not been implemented and that she is hopeful that significant public interest in this area will encourage the government to fully implement all of the recommendations.

“I know that the people that I represent feel strongly that we need to provide frail seniors with quality care. I also hear stories of seniors who are not receiving the care that they deserve.

“I agree with Ms. Carter. It will only be through public pressure that all of these recommendations to protect seniors will be implemented.”

A further seniors report on a broader range of seniors’ care issues will be released in the new year.

Victoria
December 17, 2009
Norm Macdonald MLA
Columbia River – Revelstoke

Backgrounder:

BC Ombudsperson’s report on seniors care:

http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca/resources/reports/Public_Reports/Public_Report_No_46.pdf

BC Ombudsperson’s list of recommendations:

http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca/resources/press_releases/2009/Findings_and_Recommendations_List.pdf