The good old Campbell Government announced it is going to raise the fees, charged to Seniors in Care Homes. A nice little New Year’s gift for them, is an 8% rise in fees this coming year, 10% next year. It is expected to generate an additional $54 Million to the Province.
Isn’t that nice, to know those who are elderly, nearing the end of their lives, will add so much more to the Provinces Coffers, to help pay off the over budget Olympics and other mismanaged projects of our Provincial Government? I mean come on, we have to pay those underpaid executives a bit more, so they can continue to do good work for us, like the head of VIHA or BC Hydro.
The change — affecting 75 per cent of seniors living in care homes — will bring in an additional $54 million, the province says. The revenue is to be used to improve services for seniors. ( source – CBC News )
Whatever happened to caring for people?
There is no doubt that service and care for the elderly in this Province, Country, & World needs improving, but you know, it comes from WANTING TO, NOT FROM HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND.
There are some really good care facilities, but when we turn over care to Private Enterprise, profit or non profit, we still need to maintain quality control. AND that is where OUR GOVERNMENTS are failing us. Today we no longer have oversight, of these private groups that manage our care, whether it is the facilities or in home. The Government fails to see, that sure it may indeed provide all medications, meals, etc. to those entrusted into its care, but it DOESN’T KNOW if those medications are being given, if they are being given properly, or if they are even the right medicines.
They do not know if the staff hired, is truly qualified, and only BELIEVE THEY ARE, because well gee, THE COMPANY SAYS THEY ARE.
Perhaps if the GOVERNMENT actually did checks, actually monitored often, the care facilities, and kept to a high standard, then perhaps a rise in fees would be tolerated, would be acceptable. Unfortunately, today we do not monitor, we do not regulate, and worse -
WE DO NOT CARE