Additional respite care urged for caregivers of seniors
MP holds town hall on national seniors strategy
LAKEFIELD — Canadians who care for their aging relatives can have it easier if they are allowed just one key thing, says Steve Russell.
“Respite care for caregivers – they need a break,” he said.
Russell was one of about 40 participants at a town-hall meeting on the needs of seniors on Wednesday.
Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef organized the town hall at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre. The idea was to gather feedback to help the federal government develop a national seniors strategy.
Many attendees were seniors, health care workers, accessibility advocates or volunteers.
Monsef noted there are proportionately more senior citizens in Peterborough-Kawartha than the national average: in this riding, 23 per cent of the population are over the age of 65, compared to 20 per cent Canada-wide.
“This place knows a thing or two about age-friendly communities,” she said.
Participants at the town hall were asked to brainstorm on issues such as affordable housing and income security for seniors, for example.
They were also asked what it would take to make life more manageable for Canadians who are juggling careers and childrearing while also caring for an aging relative.
Linda Marlene Eales, who is running for mayor of Selwyn Township, suggested training courses for people who are caring for aging relatives.
So often people are “thrown into” caregiving when an older relative gets sick, she said – and she wondered whether training courses could help.
Jim Patterson suggested that the federal government consider paying people who are caring for an elderly relative.
“If you have to give up a job, or turn away a job opportunity, to care for a senior at home – pay them,” he said.
Affordable housing for seniors was also discussed: At least two people mentioned the merits of communal-living arrangements for seniors such as Abbeyfield House (where several seniors live together in a house with a staff person attending).
The group also spoke about how to increase income security for seniors.
Sherry Senis, the deputy mayor of Selwyn Township, said reducing the cost of health care is one way to ensure seniors have enough money. The government could consider pharmacare for seniors, she said, or covering eye care and dental care.
Monsef said the government has taken action recently to respond to some of the needs of seniors: the national housing strategy includes funding for 7,000 new affordable homes for seniors, for instance.
She also mentioned the federal government now has a Minister for Seniors, Filomena Tassi.
Monsef told the group that their feedback was important to her – not only as MP in a riding with a high proportion of seniors but also as a member of cabinet.
She also pointed out that at least half of seniors are women, and that many caregivers of seniors are women – and she keeps this in mind, she said, as Minister of the Status of Women.