Norm Macdonald MLA                                              Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

January 8, 2010

Seniors in residential care facilities are now paying more for less

With the increase in residential care rates for seniors and the announcement of layoffs of staff at Interior Health’s Columbia House in Invermere, residents are going to be paying more while services are going to be cut.

“When the government initially announced the increases to residential care fees they promised that the extra $54 million that would be raised would go towards improving care, but that is not what is happening in Interior Health facilities in this area,” said Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

Services at facilities throughout Interior Health are being cut leaving vulnerable seniors with less of the service they need.

Housekeeping and dietary staff at Columbia House have been told that they will be receiving layoff notices at the end of the month, and that their jobs will be reposted at lower pay rates and for fewer hours.

“I’ve spoken with families of residents as well as with some of the staff who will be laid off and they have clearly stated that the system is running at a bare-bones level already.  Any further reductions will jeopardize care, but that doesn’t matter to this government.

“People in this area feel strongly about seniors care.  People tell me that it is the one thing that we have to get right.  But instead of supporting the proper care of seniors we have a government that has turned its back on the people who built our communities and our society.”

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