Premier Christy Clark said she hadn91裸聊视频檛 seen the little web attack ad that was released a couple of weeks ago by the B.C. Federation of Labour.
The 91裸聊视频淕ame Over91裸聊视频� spot imitates an early 91裸聊视频淪uper Mario91裸聊视频� video game, with a pixilated Clark in a pink hard hat hopping from photo op to photo op, collecting points for closing a school and understaffing a seniors91裸聊视频� care home.
The school closing is a cheap shot, but the latter scenario hit home. We91裸聊视频檝e heard the horror stories for years, with contract operators laying off all their staff to reincorporate or sell, elderly residents limited to one bath per week, drugs over-used to quiet residents, and injuries to caregivers from lifting frail elderly people.
With those working conditions, even keeping the staff that are funded has been difficult.
An additional $500 million was tucked into the BC Liberals91裸聊视频� election budget in February, and retiring Health Minister Terry Lake rolled out the results last week. Over the next three years, that money will finance the hiring of 1,500 more staff, add ceiling lifts and wheelchairs, and create a 91裸聊视频渞obust monitoring system91裸聊视频� to make sure the money goes to patients, not profits.
The goal is to reach an average 3.3 hours per resident day from care assistants, physiotherapists and nurses, a goal recommended to the health ministry back in 2009.
Seniors91裸聊视频� Advocate Isobel Mackenzie, who has proven to be a tough critic despite being Lake91裸聊视频檚 appointee, summed up the changes from a resident91裸聊视频檚 point of view.
91裸聊视频淚t could mean that I can go to the bathroom within 15 minutes of asking, instead of 45.91裸聊视频� Mackenzie said. 91裸聊视频淚t might mean I can ask for a bath on Tuesday and get one, even though I had one on Saturday. It might mean I can get the aide to walk me to the dining room using my walker, rather than put me in a wheelchair, because that91裸聊视频檚 the faster way to get me there.91裸聊视频�
I gave NDP health critic Judy Darcy a hard time last week for putting union spin ahead of the public interest, but this time she91裸聊视频檚 on the mark. Darcy made short work of Lake91裸聊视频檚 claim that this extra funding had to wait for a new health transfer deal with Ottawa.
Darcy noted that those transfers have increased six per cent each year since Paul Martin was prime minister, while B.C. governments boasted of bending down the 91裸聊视频渃ost curve91裸聊视频� of health care.
And let the record show that the Justin Trudeau government did something right. It upheld the former Harper government91裸聊视频檚 decision to reduce that unsustainable six-per-cent figure, while adding new money tied to home care.
With seniors living longer and the baby boom starting to retire and head west, home care is the only way B.C. will survive financially.
Mackenzie had more good news. About 85 per cent of people aged 85 and up still live independently in B.C. About half of them are supported at home despite complex needs that qualify them for residential care.
The new plan 91裸聊视频渞ecognizes that many of the family caregivers caring for these weak seniors are stretched to the breaking point, and they need more relief to keep their loved one at home,91裸聊视频� she said.
Meanwhile, the 91裸聊视频渞ural paramedicine91裸聊视频� program is extending to 70 communities, with part-time paramedics getting stable work doing home 91裸聊视频渨ellness checks91裸聊视频� to prevent emergencies. They also lead walking groups for frail seniors who wouldn91裸聊视频檛 otherwise venture out for risk of injury.
Slowly, the post-war model of acute hospital care recedes, and just in time.
Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca Twitter: @tomfletcherbc
