Post-COVID - Activists call for better senior care

COVID 19 has certainly highlighted many of the deficiencies and challenges in our treatment of seniors, both in care institutions and in the community at large. These are not new issues, but unfortunately they have been left to fester and in many cases deteriorate over the years. Today those issues have become urgent and activists are hopeful that with public pressure and awareness they will finally be appropriately addressed. Toward that end, we highlight the following initiatives that you may want to support:

The Canadian Fragility Network is engaging in a write in campaign to our political leaders to make sure the issue stays front and centre now and well beyond the COVID 19 pandemic.

They invite you to take the time to share your concern for the well being, health and dignity of our older citizens and particularly those living with frailty:

https://www.cfn-nce.ca/get-involved/advocacy-postcards/  It’s a simple process wherein an email will be sent directly to federal ministers.

You are also invited to sign a petition to the Government of Canada requesting:

1. Include long-term care in the public health system, by creating national standards for care and staffing levels under the Canada Health Act and ensure accountability;

2. Eliminate profit-making by government-funded LTC facilities and ensure funds are spent as allocated and ban sub-contracting;

3. Standardize equitable and living wages and benefits, and implement single-site employment, for all staff;

4. Strengthen government oversight and initiate strong penalties and claw backs for facilities not complying with regulations;

5. Require independent family councils with protected rights.

sign the petition here: https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2624