Ombudsperson’s Report on Seniors

http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca/images/pdf/seniors/Best_of_Care_News_Release_final.pdf

 

Highlights of Findings and Recommendations:

 

·         The report examines the broad spectrum of seniors’ care being provided through home support, assisted living, and residential care.

·         There are 143 findings and 176 recommendations which largely confirm what Opposition members have been hearing directly from seniors, and their families and care providers for the last 11 years.

·         The Ombudsperson stops short of recommending a seniors advocate but does recognize the need for advocacy and support and recommends that the Ministry of Health establish a program to provide this to seniors and their families (F18 and R22 on page 151, Volume 1)

·         Government received a draft of this report on October 28, 2011. They have not issued a fulsome response, due to the “unprecedented” level of recommendations. Specifically, the Ministry responded by saying: “The Ministry, together with health authorities, continues to fully evaluate the unprecedented number of very specific recommendations in the report to determine the feasibility of implementation and benefits to the system.” (p. 189 Volume 1 – Response Letter from Min. of Health Deputy Minister Whitmarsh)

·         The Ombudsperson visited more than 50 residential care and assisted living facilities and consulted with more than forty organizations during her investigation, which commenced in 2008.

Submitted by the Opposition Party