Canada: NACA urges improvements in long term care facilities.
Canada’s National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) urges governments, careinstitutions and other stakeholders to work together to improve thelives of seniors in long-term care facilities. The need forimprovements is discussed in a statement to be released during theCanadian Association on Gerontology’s meeting in Halifax, October20-22nd. The Council supports the recommendations put forward by theCanadian Healthcare Association (CHA) in its 2004 Policy Brief on thesubject.
Despite the existence of exemplary models, Council also finds thereare serious issues in long-term care and unacceptable disparitiesacross the country: lack of public funding and affordability; lack ofquality care and accountability; lack of dignity and choice forresidents; lack of respect for volunteers and families. “It should notcost $20 per day to have mom in a Yukon residence and $137 per day ifshe is in New Brunswick. There should be no second-class facilities forCanada’s seniors,” claims Bubs Coleman, spokesperson for NACA.
Among Canadians aged 75 and over, only 14% lived in long-term carefacilities in 2001. The group of older, more vulnerable residents,however, is growing and will likely continue to need more long-termcare. The NACA therefore supports the policy framework of the CHA as ameans to address current problems. Long-term care systems across Canadaneed to be flexible enough to meet regional realities, while deliveringcomparable services.
The National Advisory Council on Aging is an advisory body to thefederal Minister of Health on all matters related to the aging of theCanadian population and the quality of life of seniors. It was createdMay 1, 1980.
See the document at: www.naca-ccnta.ca/expression/18-4/exp18-4_toc_e.htm