Time for seniors to have better representation

From health care to better facilities, British Columbia’s seniors need a better deal from their government.

The NDP opposition is making that point this week as they urge the province to become more pro-active when it comes to the needs of seniors.

North Coast NDP MLA Gary Coons, has suggested that the first two goals should be an improvement in the access they have to health care and the creation of a new Seniors representative, to advocate for their needs.

To that end the NDP have put forward two bill in this session of the legislature, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act Amendment Act and Representative for Seniors Act, both designed to meet the needs of today for the province's seniors.

The Daily news provided more background on the NDP’s thoughts on the issue in Tuesday’s paper.

Seniors deserve a stronger advocate says MLA
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Pages one and three

North Coast MLA Gary Coons wants the government to show its commitment to seniors by improving their access to health care and creating a new Seniors Representative.

"New Democrat MLA's are very concerned about some of the treatment that seniors in this province are receiving," said Coons.

"We are also worried that the government is not taking the needs of seniors seriously."

Last week, New Democrat Leader Carole James joined Health Critic Adrian Dix and Seniors' Health Critic Guy Gentner as they unveiled two new bills designed to protect seniors and improve care conditions in facilities across British Columbia.

“Whether it is on the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Central coast, in the Nass, in Stewart or in Prince Rupert, the message I heard when consulting with people in my constituency is that seniors and their family members are frustrated with the way the system treats them” said Coons.

“It’s time to listen to seniors, because they ultimately know what services they need to continue their lives with dignity.”

The Representative for Seniors Act will create a Representative for Seniors to improve care and support for seniors and their families in British Columbia. The Representative for Seniors will monitor the performance of various programs and services to ensure they are integrated, coordinated, non-discriminatory and accountable.

“Having an independent Representative for Seniors will ensure that seniors voices are head in government,” said Coons.

“Right now seniors feel shut out because their concerns are being ignored.”

“Just like British Columbia needed a representative for Children and Youth, we need one for seniors,” said NDP leader Carole James.

“The representative will wok on behalf of seniors and their families to advocate on their behalf and report publicly to ensure the government can’t duck accountability and bury reports like they did with the deplorable conditions at Beacon Hill Villa,” said James.

The Community Care and Assisted Living Act Amendment Act will ensure British Columbia develops an accountability framework to protect seniors. The bill will mandate random annual inspection reports of facilities and ensure those reports are made public.

“We have a rapidly aging population; it is more important than ever to make sure the public has the information they need to evaluate senior’s care facilities,” said Coons.

“We also need more decisions being made at a local level; centralization of services is leading to an unresponsive system that isn’t compassionate or culturally appropriate,” he added.