Harry Adams, Lenore Cameron and Helen Third are angry. They believe that the health care system failed their loved ones and are adamant that major changes must be made to senior's care in the Interior Health Authority. Public response to their cause suggests that they are not the only ones who are angry. Said Cameron, "We have started a groundswell that won't stop until senior's residential care issues have been addressed and solutions found."

"What happens when the family is no longer able to care for someone at home?" asked Cameron. "The supports to keep them at home have been drastically cut. Many seniors could use it and they may only get one hour a week for a bath. Within the last five years nothing has (been added) to fill the gap. There has been no increase in beds and there is a tremendous wait list. The problem will keep getting bigger because one in six will be a senior soon."

Staffing is a major concern. "They thought they could solve the nursing shortage with more Care Aids, but it hasn't worked," said Cameron, adding that the positions are poorly paid and often casual and part-time instead of permanent and full-time. At some facilities staff are routinely asked to do double shifts when someone is away and many CA's work at more than one location.

They cite an example of one relative with Alzeimer's who was left a bottle of water, but was unable to open it herself and could have become seriously dehydrated, another who was nearly given the wrong medications when her relative was present because the CA didn't know who she was, another who may have lost the use of her arm because there was no-one to exercise it daily as her care plan suggested. These are typical situations they said, but they clarified that they have no complaints against the caregivers themselves, who are doing the best they can.

"The majority of residents can't manage their own personal care," said Third, "but there are two Care Aids to feed eight people. I observed this. They say the activity people help, but they seem to only pour drinks. When a volunteer offers to come in they're not called upon. We're paying a woman to assist my mother in the home."

According to Adams it is not uncommon now for the family to subsidize the care from their own pockets because it is inadequate. "You leave at mealtime and assume they'll be fed, but it's not necessarily so," he said.

Lack of staff has been identified as the main issue by the ASC, which has been very busy since their first meeting in March 2006, closely followed by standards of care and practice. According to Adams the benchmark standard of 2.83 hours of staff-time per resident per day is inadequate. "One bath per week is part of the standards, but is that enough when the majority are incontinent," he asked. "The days of back rubs or foot care are gone." He also pointed out the embarrassment that can be associated with male aids helping women with personal care or men and women being forced to share a room.

Another issue they point out is the serious lack of accountability. There is no mechanism for people to bring concerns forward. "If an issue comes up at the Family and Resource Council it has to be kept private and personal," said Third, who had the experience of finding her mother being given two 222's every four hours when she wasn't in any pain and the physician had not authorized them. "We listed all our concerns, but it had to be edited by the administrator before being forwarded to the IHA and it took months," she said. "Some families won't say anything because they are scared of retribution on the resident."

Cameron said, "There's stonewalling. I asked (IHA board) once if there was a crisis in our Health Care system and they called it a 'challenge.' We think our family members are at risk." Adam wants to know who the IHA is accountable to.

ASC has put together proposals in answer to some of the issues and they want input. They held 15 Saturday meetings at the Shubert Senior's Center Coffee Shop in the spring and four public meetings. They also made a presentation to a board meeting of the IHA in May and one to MLA George Abbott in July. There are over 100 on their contact list now and it grows with every meeting. They ask everyone interested to write letters and to contact them to share their stories. They are beginning to network across the province with other such groups and they have planned a rally in Kelowna November 15.

"Individually we don't have a voice, but as a group we do," said Adam. "We will not go away. What is the quality of life for seniors in care? Is it the best it can be? Every one of them was a contributing member of society."

Contact Adam at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 308-8905 for further information.

Oct 06-Lynn Dewing