Friday, May 5, 2017

Standing up for Our Parents and Those Who Care for Them

By Paul Wilson, Research and Education Director

For the last few years, I have strongly advocated for more government support for long term care. I am passionate about this cause. For me, this effort is driven by both principle and personal experience.

On the principle side, this is a matter of justice, dignity, respect, and compassion.

We owe it to our elders to provide care that respects who they are and the many contributions they made to the life we enjoy and sometimes take for granted. When they require long term care, our seniors deserve care that meets their needs and is delivered with compassion, dignity, and respect.

Unfortunately, while the workers who deliver such services want to provide excellent care, there are many obstacles in the present healthcare system that stand in their way. Under funding, insufficient staffing, unnecessary bureaucracy, and redundant documentation are a few examples of such obstacles. Each of these matters require serious attention and substantive change if we are going to have a long term care system that really puts the needs of patients first.

On the personal side, I have first-hand experience with long term care. Before her death, my mother spent six-and-half years in a long term care facility in London, Ontario.

As an Alzheimer’s patient, she required extra time to eat, regular changes, lots of personal care, and a lift to get out of bed and into the bathtub or her wheelchair. The personal support workers and RPNs who provided hands-on care were amazing. They had far too little time and staff to meet the many different needs of their patients, but they made it happen day after day—despite working short and dealing with high levels of stress.

My limited experience with their work life left me with a profound sense of gratitude, respect, and admiration for these workers. They are the unsung heroes of our healthcare system, and they need our support.

That is why I am both pleased and privileged to have the opportunity, through my work, to advocate for positive change and more support for these workers so our elders will receive the quality care they need and deserve.

You can also be an advocate by calling, emailing, or writing a letter to your MPP about the need for better long term care and more support for those who are working to provide quality care. I encourage you to get involved. One day, when your family member needs long term care, you will be glad that you did your part to advocate for better care.

Standing up for Our Parents and Those Who Care for Them

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