The top priority remains more long term care spaces. That’s how seniors care advocates are viewing the first half of the year as the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society pauses for the summer break.
President Graham Brown is updating on the progress they have made, saying the Saskatchewan government has agreed that the Jubilee Home needs to be replaced and they will look to get another 100 beds when that development takes place, which will double the present capacity.
Another issue is the housing file and the discussions they have been having with the Lloydminster Region Housing Group and the Lloydminster Housing Authority dealing with social issues and housing.
“I think we have really moved that forward as far as talking about the issues in the social housing complexes in Lloydminster – and getting things improved, getting better maintenance and getting issues heard by the boards,” says Brown
Issues like ensuring amenities at seniors homes and facilities are in working order remain the concern of the seniors advocates.
The transfer of records across the Alberta-Saskatchewan border is another matter that’s costing Alberta residents a $20 fee to make copies at the Saskatchewan-located Lloydminster hospital. Brown says they are writing to the Saskatchewan health minister to get redress.
“We’re writing to Saskatchewan Health – as it’s Saskatchewan Health that is charging the Alberta residents $20 to make copies of their records. So, we are asking the Saskatchewan health minister – not to charge that for getting those health records copied,” says Brown.
Another matter making headway is the request from the Lloydminster District Health Advisory Council to have the health study updated to assess health needs across the region. The last study was done in 2013.
“The governments (Alberta and Saskatchewan) are moving forward on that. And it has been the leadership of the Lloydminster District Health Advisory Council and the letter writing campaign that we got involved in this spring, that helped make that happen. So, we are glad to see that it did happen, and the governments are now getting ready to call for a proposal from consultants to do that report,” says Brown.
The 2013 health facility infrastructure and needs assessment tallied the size, capacity and condition of health facilities including long-term care. The terms of the next study are yet to be agreed on by bi-provincial health officials.
The next meeting of the seniors advocates is slated for September 12.