The Seniors Task Force of Public Interest Alberta, which includes representatives from a wide range of seniors’ organizations and health professionals, either met or corresponded with all of the candidates for the PC leadership in order to discuss five key issues regarding homecare and long-term care for seniors.
While some of the candidates have made it a priority to announce where they stand on these issues, others have shown a very limited understanding of the issues and currently have not announced any plan to address the on-going concerns of seniors and their families.
Having met with the leadership candidates, the Seniors Task Force believes strongly that it is essential to have a real debate on seniors care issues, one that goes beyond platitudes and reveals where the candidates stand on such questions as the following
- What would you do to address the lack of access to sufficient quality homecare and support, in order to allow seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible?
- What do you plan to do to make sure there will be enough access to public long-term care beds with proper staffing levels in order to address the current long waiting lists and the growing needs of the seniors population?
- Will you stop the conversion of our long-term care facilities to designated assisted living facilities (where the seniors and their families have to pay for every necessary service)?
- Will your government help to empower the seniors and their families by mandating the establishment of independent advisory councils in all seniors facilities?
- Will your government support the establishment of an Independent Seniors Advocate as an officer of the legislature?
After months of letters and meetings, the following is what we know – and what we don’t know - about where the candidates stand on these important issues. This summary is compiled from observations and information from meetings with candidates and a review of their public policy commitments to date.
To determine where each of the candidates stands on each of the five elements of PIA’s Alberta Seniors Deserve Better campaign, please refer to the following general overview of the candidates’ responses, compiled in alphabetical order.
* (Please note that PIA will continue to follow the leadership race and will be updating the website as candidates clarify their positions on these five issues).
Overview of the Conservative Party Leadership Candidates’ Responses to
Alberta Seniors Deserve Better
Jim Dinning
Mr. Dinning was “unavailable” to meet with the Seniors Task Force so it was not possible to question him directly on each of the five issues. His office did respond to the questionnaire and his policy on seniors is posted on his website. While Mr Dinning agrees with most of the five proposals, he is unclear on his commitment to put a moratorium on the conversion of long-term care facilitates into designated assisted living facilities.
Victor Doerksen
Mr. Doerksen did not respond to questions that were sent to him nor did the full task force meet with him to discuss his position on seniors care issues. He has identified three simple points on his website that address his views on the subject. His main concern seems to be focused on “managing an aging population and escalating healthcare costs” rather than looking at any of the serious issues facing seniors care.
Dave Hancock
The Seniors Task Force had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Hancock and to discuss the issues with respect to seniors care. He responded publicly to our questions by posting his policy positions on his website, most of which are directly taken from our list of five questions. While Mr Hancock agrees with many of the basic concerns expressed in the campaign, his approach reflects much of what already is being done rather than bringing forward any new ideas on the subject. He appears to focus his policy on providing financial aid for those in need rather than looking at how to address the systemic issues facing public homecare and long-term care. Of all the candidates that the Task Force met with, Mr. Hancock was the only one who did not support the establishment of an independent seniors advocate, saying this was the responsibility of the Minister of Seniors.
Gary McPherson
Some members of PIA’s task force were able to meet with Mr. McPherson and discuss his position on seniors care issues. While Mr. McPherson was very sympathetic to the challenges presented by homecare and the problems in getting quality long-term care, he did not respond to our list of questions nor does his policy document on his website outline any position on seniors care issues. When it comes to the question of the Independent Seniors Advocate, Mr. McPherson cautioned that it must be truly independent or else it will end up being controlled and silenced like some other political appointees.
Ted Morton
The Seniors Task Force met with Mr. Morton and discussed our concerns regarding seniors care issues. Unfortunately, Mr. Morton had not read the documents we had sent to him and did not express a position on any of our five main points. In reviewing Mr. Morton’s policies on his website, we note that he does not mention the word seniors once.
Mark Norris
The Seniors Task Force met with Mr. Norris and discussed various aspects of the problems related to long-term care. He responded to our list of questions and strongly supported all five of the recommendations, except the issue of the moratorium on converting long-term care facilities into assisted living facilities where he indicated that he would “like to understand better the reasons for doing this.” While his support and understanding of these seniors care issues is reflected in the policies on his website, unfortunately, when it comes to the question of the Independent Seniors Advocate, he sees this person not as an Independent officer of the Legislature, but as someone who would report to the Premier.
Lyle Oberg
Dr. Oberg met with the Seniors Task Force and unlike a number of the other candidates had read the Alberta Seniors Deserve Better materials and had a position on the issues. In the meetings and in his policy position on his website, he made it clear that he would increase financial support to low income seniors directly, rather than working to increase the public services and programs available to seniors. He agrees that homecare is far more cost effective and the preferred option for seniors, but he feels that the private sector should be able to expand to meet the need if they were given more financial support. Similarly, he felt that there should be no distinction between long-term care and designated assisted living and that seniors should get the care they need wherever they are by being able to pay for it. He did agree with the idea of establishing and Independent Seniors Advocate and has posted this view on his website.
Ed Stelmach
Mr. Stelmach met with the Seniors Task Force and was receptive to a number of the ideas presented but had yet to form any personal policy positions on the issues. He did understand that one of the major problems facing homecare and long-term care is the staffing crisis, and highlights that on his website as something he would address in his labour policy. He also understood that there is not enough capacity in the long-term care system and particularly raises the issues of seniors being able to stay in their own community. He was not aware that there have already been a number of long-term care facilities in places like Hinton, Pincher Creek and Lethbridge, and said he did not want to see seniors having to move as their health deteriorates.
For an additional overview of where the candidates stand on other issues related to seniors, please visit the Seniors United Now website at:
