Seniors need a voice
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
After charges were laid in the murder of an 84-year-old city woman, seniors advocate Ruth Adria noted far too few cases of elder abuse lead to prosecution. We, unfortunately, suspect she is correct.
The problem of senior abuse is broad and has, for several decades, been one of society’s dirty little secrets. Beyond the obvious physical and sexual abuse, there is a wide degree of academic evidence showing seniors in Canada routinely suffer from emotional abuse, financial malfeasance, isolation and poor treatment at the hands of public bodies.
The latter issue is one that is most easily resolved, through intense public pressure. Unfortunately, seniors do not have many outside advocates and do not get the government’s ear.
Four years ago, Alberta seniors pro-posed a sensible solution to the issue of government neglect: An independent provincial advocate who could handle seniors’ concerns and help them navigate through the 19 different bureaucracies that deal with senior issues. Expecting someone in their 70s or 80s who has worked hard their entire life to deal with that is cruel and unusual punishment.
Not only has the request been routinely ignored, Alberta is actually being sued by seniors’ advocates for allegedly enriching itself at their expense via added costs and maximum charges at seniors homes. One government estimate suggests losing the case could cost the budget an extra $175 million a year.
It doesn’t exactly make Alberta sound accommodating of the elderly.
A stark reality in Canada is the average life expectancy is increasing with little regard from governments for ensuring those extra years are not only accommodated in budgetary terms but comfortable for people who deserve it.
These people paid taxes their entire lives, only to be told they can’t live in the same rest home as their spouse, or get an extra serving of food, or that to keep their nutritional requirements up, they’ll have to buy supplement shakes.
Meanwhile, we’re about to mint an interim premier in ex-Washinton lobbyist Gary Mar who was given a $60,000 allowance each year just to send his kids to private school on the public dime.
Alberta needs to give seniors an independent voice, and make their needs a spending priority.
SOURCE: The Calgary Sun
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