Seniors suffering below the poverty line

In the news recently we found out that addicts will get fentanyl patches or pills for free to try and limit the number of overdose deaths.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe the deaths have to be lowered — but I do not believe that free drugs is the answer. Now for my beef.

Seniors seem to be the forgotten demographic in this province. Roughly 80 per cent live below the poverty line and have to choose between eating or getting their medicine.

Many live in isolation because they cannot hear well and get embarrassed when out because they keep having to apologize and ask the store clerks to repeat themselves.

There is no way they can afford $3,500 to $5,000 for hearing aids per year. B.C is one of the few provinces that do not help seniors get the medicine or hearing aids, or for that matter food that they need.

Now people are going to say that there is fair pharmacare to help them, but to qualify you need to spend between $2,000 to $10,000 on your meds before that kicks in. How do we spend that when we are having to choose between meds or food?

Don’t even get me started on the lack of medical care. All these clinics the province is opening is ridiculous. First you have to find one that is not “at capacity” and then, when you do, the waiting time is usually about three to four hours long. Seniors can’t sit there that long.

I think it is about time for the government to step up and help.

It burns my butt that drug addicts get free housing, are fed and now get free drugs. How is that helpful in getting them drug free? It’s not. As a senior I just want to sit down and cry.

Colleen White Colwood