HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1988-06-01, Page 5Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 1, 1988—Page 5
Effective care for the elderly
To the Editor:
Home health care is one of the most
humane and cost effective ways of pro-
viding care to the sick and elderly. It
allows individuals to be cared for in the
comfort of their own homes and results in
a positive financial impact on the total
health care system.
Unfortunately,' the providers of this vital
service are threatened by a critical shor-
tage of staff to supply home, health care
and support. Essentially the problem is
that the service is underfunded by the
government, and the agencies supplying
the service cannot offer high enough
wages to attract staff.
People are the backbone of the home
health care delivery system. To ensure the
integrity of home care service, there is a
need for training programs and com-
petitive wages and benefits.
The issue is one of money, distributed in
a fair and equitable manner. The
challenge is one of laying the foundation to
move from local and regional programs,
Whole new set
of problems
Canada is getting old. Since the early
1960s, the number of Canadians over the
age of 65 has grown from 1.4 million to 2.7
million. As baby boomers continue to grow
up - and old - over the next two decades,
this country's elderly population will swell
to about 3.4 million. Up to 1 million of those
Canadians will suffer from Alzheimer
Disease, a degenerative brain disease with
no known cause or cure.
While science has made tremendous pro-
gress in combating disease and extending
life expectance, society is now faced with a
whole new set of problems related to the
health needs of the elderly. Health-care
professionals are now asking themselves if
we'll be ready to respond to the demands
of the ever-increasing number of
Alzheimer victims.
Alzheimer Disease is an incurable brain
condition that strikes both men and
women, usually after the age of 40. Those
over 65 are most susceptible to the disease.
There are now about 300,000 Canadians
suffering from Alzheimer Disease and
10,000 deaths each year caused by the
disease.
Research has shown that Alzheimer
Disease is linked to two types of changes in
the brain - an accumulation of abnormal
fibres (neurofibrillary tangles) in the
nerve cells of the cortex and the formation
of "Plaques" that cause degeneration and
disruption of electrochemical signals bet-
ween nerve cells involved in memory.
The effect of Alzheimer Disease reaches
beyond the patient. Lack of support
systems in the community and a shortage
of suitable institutional facilities usually
means that family members of the patient
take on the responsibility of full-time..,
caregiving, a task for which they often
financially, emotionally and physically ill-
equipped.
The seriousness of the problems con-
nected with Alzheimer Disease will
become more apparent as the number of
those affected multiplies. Vince Gillis, Ex-
ecutive Director of the Alzheimer Society
of Canada, thinks that increased numbers
of Alzheimer patients will have a major
impact on the health-care system.
"Many Alzheimer victims lack the abili-
ty to look after themselves. And because
the community is often not equipped to
provide the kind of support needed to keep
them at home, they are admitted to institu-
tions," said Mr. Gillis in a recent
interview.
"Because of the nature of the care they
need, victims of Alzheimer Disease have
great difficulty in finding ?nstitutions
which will take them. If the situation re-
mains as it is, or gets worse, family
members and caregivers will have an in-
creasing burden placed on them to provide
24-hour care. While research is the real
key to understanding and dealing with
Alzheimer Disease, it's clear to me that
it's also very important to provide more
support to those caring for Alzheimer vic-
tims and develop satisfactory alternatives
to home care."
TO
equitably and thoughtfully to a co-
ordinated provincial effort.
The government has recognized the pro-
blem and responded by requesting the In-
terministerial Review Committee Report
on Ontario Homemaking Services. Person-
nel from five provincial ministries in con-
sultation with interested groups produced
a report last fall addressing the critical
RR1F
A
11%
INVESTMENTS
122 Courthouse Sq., Goderich
524.2773 1-800-265-5503
issues of wages, education, the rate setting
process and rate structure.
Tragically the government has not yet
released this report or taken any action to
address the issues. Surely a report which
would focus attention on the needs of this
vital health care sector should not be
delayed. Nor should a piecemeal approach
to this province -wide challenge be
accepted.
A response which addresses these
critical challenges within the scope of an
equitable, provincial system is needed
now.
Michael Clayman
President
Ontario Home Health
Care Providers' Association
inel
Birthday
Club
Christopher Hackett
Lucknow
June 1, 1982
6 Years Old
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