Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald (NDP) is urging seniors and all stakeholders in the provincial seniors’ care system to participate in B.C. Ombudsman Kim Carter’s systemic investigation into problems with seniors’ care in the province.
Carter announced on Aug. 21 that she’s received over 50 complaints about seniors’ care since late June, prompting her to announce the investigation.
The Ombudsman’s office say they have received complaints about neglect in care facilities, accessibility of services, placement decisions, separation from spouses and the closure of facilities. Carter said she decided to launch the systemic investigation in response to these complaints, and also after meeting with a number of seniors groups about their concerns. “Seniors are part of a generation that had to do without and overcome adversity, so they may be less inclined to complain,” says Carter. “Some seniors may be unable to complain effectively because of their physical or mental challenges, or may be reluctant to do so because they feel vulnerable.”
The investigation will look at a number of areas related to seniors’ care. These include “access to services, standards of care in facilities, and monitoring and enforcement of those standards. It will also look at how information about seniors’ care services is provided to the public and to those affected by decisions.”
Macdonald urges everyone, especially seniors, to take the time to complete the survey and send it in, saying the investigation is a unique opportunity to provide input.
He says when a critical incident arises, it’s often very difficult for people to speak out because they’re dealing with stress and may already be in a vulnerable position. A person experiencing a health crisis, for example, may not be in any condition to deal with shortcomings related to the care they are receiving. “I think its very, very important that given the opportunity, people participate,” says Macdonald. “We have to do better by our seniors. This is an excellent opportunity to put on the record the shortcomings and what will we be doing, of course, is not only encouraging people but working to make participation in this exercise as easy as possible.”
Macdonald says that specific complaints, when raised by the opposition, fall victim to politics. Specific incidents or systemic problems often get caught up in political fights
He says because the Ombudsman is an independent office of the legislature, political parties can’t say the results are politicking. “Instead of arguing over whether something has happened or not, or if there is systemic problems, the facts are put on the table and then the political discussion can be around what to do to fix it,” said MacDonald.
He says one ideal NDP leader Carole James has floated is creating a non-political office of a seniors’ representative, similar to the children’s representative. “There’s not a person that doesn’t want to do what’s right for seniors.”
The Ombudsman has created an online questionnaire that includes yes/no questions as well as an opportunity to write comments.
The Ombudsman’s questions include:
-Are you a senior who is receiving, or has received, home support, assisted living or long-term care services?
-Are you a relative or friend of a senior who is receiving, or has received, home support, assisted living or long-term care services?
-Do you have any concerns about the care that is being, or was provided?
-Do you know all the different authorities you can go to if you have a complaint about the care that you or a relative or friend has received?
-If you have complained about the care that you, a friend or relative has received, were you satisfied with how the complaint was handled?
-Do you have access to enough information to make informed decisions about care?
-Do you have adequate opportunities to provide input into decisions affecting care?
-Would you be willing to provide further information to our office, if we wish to contact you?
You can also download a print copy of the questionnaire. You can submit the form online, by faxing a completed form to the Ombudsman’s office at: (250) 387-0198, or by mailing a completed form to the Office of the Ombudsman at P.O. Box 9039, Stn. Prov. Govt., Victoria, BC, V8W 9A5. A printable form can be found at this URL: http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca/seniors/Seniors’_care_questionnaire_printable_version_to_mail_or_fax2.pdf You can also find the Ombudsman’s questionnaire at their website: www.ombudsman.bc.ca.