Seniors association demands action now
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following open letter to MLA Karen Casey was submitted to the Truro Daily News for publication.
Dear Ms. Casey:
The North Shore Seniors Association of Tatamagouche has asked that a letter be sent to you to communicate our great dismay at learning that in the Northern Zone of the Nova Scotia Health Authority 23 per cent of patients (575), who require transfer to a long-term care facility, died in hospital.
This compares with the 15.7 per cent average rate in the rest of the province.
Our association members held a discussion about this unacceptable situation and the instructions that we received was to “demand” that new nursing home beds be opened as this is a priority issue for area seniors and their families.
The members also want you to understand that allowing seniors to wait inordinate lengths of time in hospital, where there is little social stimulation is unacceptable.
Did you know that 418 elderly languished in hospital for between 91 and 365 days while eight patients waited over a year for long-term care placement?
I think it is fair to say our group of seniors and likely other similar groups will see this as a form of elder abandonment.
To continue to allow such a situation to exist is seen as being highly disrespectful to the senior population that over lifetimes have contributed greatly to our province.
The Truro Daily News quotes MLA Lenore Zann as saying, “The Liberals have not opened a single new nursing home bed since they were elected and the result is that people are dying before they can access an appropriate level of care”. ( Truro Daily News, March 7, 2018).
Given your role as our MLA and additional roles as Deputy Premier and Finance Minister it seems that you are ideally situated to resolve this issue in a timely manner.
Please respond to this letter with a clear plan to both finance and coordinate with related Ministers, such that this unacceptable situation is addressed.
With respect,
Sherril Bentley-benoit President, North Shore
Seniors’ Association
Paul Jenkinson
Member, North Shore Seniors’ Association