A major local issue in upcoming election should be the lack of funding for the provincial Better at Home program for seniors in Nelson.
Better at Home started in 2014 as a pilot project of the B.C. Ministry of Health contracted to United Way. Its purpose is to keep seniors in their homes. Currently if a Nelson senior at home requires post op care, or a colostomy, they can get qualified IHA staff to come to their homes and bath them, change bandages, take medications, etc. But not clean their bathrooms, the floor, take out the garbage, do laundry, change bed sheets etc.
The system allows a clean wound to exist in a filthy environment A hospital bed costs $1200 a day while a weekly two-hour visit from a Home Help worker costs $40.
Better at Home is now an established, funded provincial program. However, since inception there has not been any opportunity for those communities not originally approved to be added to the program. Better at Home has not received any new funding in spite of the new federal health accord, the recent provincial budget or the many discussions on how necessary and cost effective this service is. Castlegar, Creston and Nakusp are part of Better at Home.
Nelson is not.
Nelson Seniors Coordinating Society has delivered Home Help Services since 1998. The local service is funded by donations from individuals and local service groups, including a low income fee subsidy. Support from the CBT has allowed us to grow our program in clients and visits but that funding is running out. The demand for our service is clearly there and growing.
Inclusion in Better at Home represents sustainability for our program and as citizens of B.C. we have a right to access these services.
As a long-time seniors advocate I have seen a steady increase in the number of calls I receive expressing concern about care for our aging citizens, the folks that built the place. We at Seniors Coordinating are doing all we can. We need the support of all Nelson citizens and our MLA.
Please help us get added to the program by demanding that each candidate commit to working on our behalf in Victoria should they be elected.
Joan Reichardt
Nelson