Disability group fights for mobility fairness
Long waits for wheelchairs and supplies a severe hardship, advocacy group says
Albertans with spinal cord injuries shouldn't have to wait up to a year to get wheelchairs, says a recently-formed advocacy group calling for the province to overhaul its medical supply program.
Wheels of Change spokeswoman Bean Gill said it took 23 forms and a five-month wait just to replace a wheelchair cushion. “Why are we still living like it's 1980? ... We want a seat at the table and we will even bring our own seats,” she said.
“We need to be seen as people, we need to have a voice.”
Wheels of Change says long wait times for specialized wheelchairs are harming Albertans' physical and mental health.
The program at issue, Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL), helps people with disabilities and illnesses pay for equipment and supplies. But it's inefficient and needs to be more patient-centred, said Gill.
“It's frustrating as somebody who needs a wheelchair. It's not like this is a luxury item,” she said. “This is my legs. My wheelchair is my legs. I cannot move, I cannot go anywhere without my wheelchair. It is a necessity for me to live.”
People with spinal cord injuries use catheters to urinate. Gill says the government's program only allows for one catheter a day, meaning they must either only urinate once, or wash and reuse it and risk getting a urinary tract infection.
Albertans in this program also regularly have to pay out of pocket to rent wheelchairs while they wait for theirs to arrive.
Dr. Adalberto Loyola-sanchez, professor at the University of Alberta's faculty of medicine, said not having a properly-fitting chair can create shoulder pain and bedsores that can get infected and become serious.
It can also lead to depression and anxiety as people with injuries become isolated.
“These people are going through a life-changing event, and if you don't have the appropriate equipment to mobilize and be a part of the community ... that has devastating effects on their mental health,” he said.
“I don't understand why we have that double standard. Can you wait without your legs for a day?”
Steve Buick, Health Minister Tyler Shandro's press secretary, said there have been no recent changes to benefits or eligibility for AADL, but it has made more products like catheters accessible to some clients who can demonstrate need.
“But wait times for some benefits are too long. We're committed to improving access to publicly-funded health services and that includes the equipment and supplies provided by AADL,” he said.
“Minister Shandro has asked Alberta Health for a plan to improve access; it will cost money but these services matter to people, just like surgery and other health care. The minister is committed to making this program serve people better.”