Health change welcome

Re: “Care centres in line for huge shakeup; One facility for all support,” The Journal, Jan. 26.

The announcement by Health Minister Fred Horne is good news, not only to all the seniors in Alberta but also to their children, who have to look after them and arrange a place for them to live.

During the last three weeks, I was helping my parents, 82 and 90 years old, move into a seniors lodge. They have been waiting for three years. They lived in the same apartment for more than 20 years and it is not easy for them to move and get used to the new environment.

I am glad the lodge they are moving into now has a pathway connecting to the care centre. When they are older, losing their memory and in need of 24-hour care, they can move over there without a big change in their living environment.

New Democrat Party Leader Brian Mason visited the lodge to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The seniors were excited because the member of the legislative assembly came to say “Kung hei fat choy” and promised that the NDP will support the government on funding for another seniors lodge in the south side of Edmonton.

Hopefully it will be ready by the time I am ready to move in. Isn’t waiting for three years a bit too long?

The support of our Alberta government and the opposition party for looking after our seniors definitely is a blessing to all of us.

Daniel Ma, Edmonton