Hi All,
Our intrepid MLA continues to try and win back funding for our local seniors.
Attached and below is the transcript of an exchange with Minister Falcon regarding seniors services in maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows.
Enjoy!
2009 Legislative Session: First Session, 39th Parliament
HOUSE BLUES
This is a DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY of debate in one sitting of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. This transcript is subject to corrections, and will be replaced by the final, official Hansard report. Use of this transcript, other than in the legislative precinct, is not protected by parliamentary privilege, and public attribution of any of the debate as transcribed here could entail legal liability.
DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
(HANSARD)
HOUSE BLUES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
Afternoon Sitting
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
M. Sather: I wanted to ask the minister about the seniors outreach services in Maple Ridge that were cut earlier this fall. We have over 300 seniors in our area receiving services. Some of these services are volunteer handyman programs and rides to medical appointments, including dialysis and chemotherapy. As well, they provide telephone support, home visits and shopping assistance. Community services in our communities have been providing this service for over 30 years. When they were eliminated, the spokesperson for Fraser Health said that they weren’t essential services. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I wanted to ask the minister if he agrees or disagrees with that. But more importantly, I want to ask him if he would reinstate these important seniors outreach services in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Falcon: I think this is a very important discussion point, because the decisions that have been made are certainly not easy, and it’s not an indictment of the socialization programs that were delivered by many of these groups — not at all — but more, frankly, a recognition that in an era where health budgets are increasing almost 20 percent…. That 20 percent increase, or 2.4 billion additional dollars being added over the next three years to health authority budgets, is still not enough money for them, and there are still pressures within the system. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
One of the things that we said to the health authorities — and I, absolutely, and we as government take responsibility for saying this — is that we expect them to live within a 20 percent budget increase, in spite of the fact that we know that there were pressures. Those pressures were identified back in February on page 45 of the budget — 3½ percent budget pressure. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
One of the things that the authorities have done in the case of Fraser Health is that they’ve looked at the socialization programs being delivered — as I say, not that they are bad programs. Seniors socialization programs, whether it’s driving them to appointments or whether it’s providing tax preparation in some cases or whether it’s, you know, bringing them together for card games or whatever the case may be, are important socialization projects that have taken place. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The issue is that they are not direct health funding issues, and Fraser Health and the other health authorities, including Vancouver Coastal, have said that they want to continue to fund those programs which provide direct medical benefit — for example, bathing programs or occupational health programs or rehab programs. Those are considered to be medical programs, which will continue to be funded. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Those socialization programs, though important, are not considered to be…. Particularly in an era where 20 percent is still not enough for some of these health authorities, they will not continue funding some of the socialization programs. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
What are the options? The options are that there’s an opportunity for the community to look at participating and funding those programs. There’s an opportunity to look at a user-pay system that can help fund those programs, where you can have a cost associated with it for those that are participating. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I recognize that none of those are easy issues, but it seems to me to be appropriate, however difficult, in an era where a 20 percent funding increase still has pressures, that they focus every one of those dollars towards direct patient care. That is what they are doing in the case of the programs the member is referring to. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
He didn’t mention a specific program, so if the member wishes to discuss specifics, I’m happy to do that. I would need to know which specific program, because there are, of course, a number of programs delivered by the health authorities. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1810]
M. Sather: Well, I did mention dialysis and chemotherapy treatment, but it certainly wouldn’t be a socialization program. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I wanted to talk to the minister about the seniors who act as caregivers in my community. They’re providing care at home and also for friends, family and loved ones in care, to a degree. Respite for them is very important. You can imagine the stresses on them. This was cancelled a couple of years ago. Has the minister considered or will the minister consider reinstating those respite programs, respite dollars for senior caregivers? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Secondly, these caregivers say to me that a stipend for them would be really helpful so that they could get some education on things like giving medications and bathing. So the two things, then: reinstating the dollars and a stipend for education on medications and bathing for senior caregivers. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Falcon: I’m going to get the member a number on the respite beds. I’ll get that for the member in a moment. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Two things that I would say. The first is that we have committed, as a government, to launch a caregivers website to provide increased support for family caregivers. That speaks to the issue the member raised in terms of making sure that we have an ability to provide caregivers appropriate levels of support and information so that they don’t particularly feel isolated in the very important respite services that they are providing to loved ones. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1815]
Also, as part of the Seniors in British Columbia: A Healthy Living Framework, which was released in September of 2008, the Ministry of Healthy Living is committed to exploring innovative and sustainable models to provide non-medical home support services. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
It will be of interest to the member that the secretariat, which has been put in place under the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, will partner with the United Way of the Lower Mainland to develop and implement community action for seniors independent demonstration projects in up to five communities around the province. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The idea is that they want to try and see if they can develop a model for delivering services like this that engage community members and local organizations — including non-profits, faith and multicultural groups — to try to determine and develop an innovative service delivery model for these communities. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
What will be of interest to the member is that three of the projects would be pilot projects that will be undertaken and will take place in Lower Mainland communities — in Surrey, Vancouver and Maple Ridge. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
They are also going to be doing some community consultations. I understand they’ve gone through a round of consultations, and there is a second set of consultations scheduled. They will be doing a consultation in Maple Ridge on November 24, which I believe is tomorrow, if I’ve got my dates right. Hopefully, that will be of some help to the member, and I will just determine whether we’ve got the number of respite beds figure for the member. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
