The Ministry of Health has kicked off a series of consultations on seniors advocates. There will be 10 public consultations taking place throughout the province in the coming weeks, with the closest one to Barriere being in Kelowna on June 20. Those wishing to attend should phone 1-855-356-9614 or email seniorsadvocate@gov.bc.ca and register.
"Through the seniors action plan, we are changing the way seniors access and receive care throughout B.C.," said Health Minister Michael de John. "But we cannot move forward without consulting the groups most affected, seniors and their families. We are listening to what British Columbians want from a seniors advocate."
The commitment to establish an Office of the Seniors Advocate is a key component of the Province's seniors actions plan. An advocate supports the commitment in that plan to ensure a more accessible, transparent and accountable approach to seniors care. More information about the plan can be found online at www.seniorsbc.ca.
One of the actions from the plan that has been completed is: an after-hours palliative nursing service has been expanded province-wide to help British Columbians with terminal illnesses access after-hours nursing support in their own homes over the phone.
Some of the actions yet to be completed: improving access to information for seniors and their families so they can make better care choices; protection and safety of seniors through the development of a provincial elder abuse prevention, identification and response plan by December 2012; and ensuring concerns are responded to and resolved in a timely way through the creation of a toll-free phone line for seniors and families to launch June 2012.