No need for senior council
Written by Ramma Sawhney
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
MLA Greg Weadick has exhibited adherence to a belief in a convenient but untrue reality that designated assisted living (DAL) facilities are the ultimate heaven for all aging seniors, “the right place to age” (and die), so to speak.
He immediately slips into denial when informed of true facts regarding old, incapacitated, ill, frail seniors’ difficulties and plight when they are moved from nursing homes to DAL. There is no registered nurse to promptly and professionally deal with often unexpected and complex health problems, and no 24/7 “full care” by aides in DAL.
What information can a “senior advisory council” bring to the health department that frustrated and angry citizens of Lethbridge have not expressed lucidly in a petition signed by 2,500 citizens, at rallies, in hundreds of letters to the editor in the Lethbridge Herald, phone calls, emails, letters to Mr. Weadick, the health board and Health Minister Ron Liepert?
The creation of a council is hence, hogwash. The process of privatization of senior care is already well on its way. I strongly suggest to Mr. Weadick to stop playing politics and choose between the welfare of his constituents, which in his mandate, or tow the party line, unconscientiously. As MLA Guy Boutilier said to a gathering in Lethbridge on Sept. 24, “I have to look in the mirror every night.” I hope other PC members of the Alberta legislative assembly will find time to look at their mirrors to discover who they really are.
Albertans had expressed to Mr. Klein that they are fiercely against privatization of health care. We do not want to sell our health care to greedy corporations whose bottom line is money, not compassion. We want an equitable universal public health care system in Alberta.
Secondly, we want our frail, ill parents to receive the excellent care they deserve. Let us never forget that Canada stands strongly today because of their toil, blood and sweat. Shame on a society that discards their own parents to the fringes of society to suffer in silence, because they have no capability or strength left to battle with an apathetic government. We will continue to fight for them
There is no need for a “senior health council” to tell Mr. Weadick what is already loud and clear.
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