Home support services improve quality of life for frail seniors and people with chronic conditions or disabilities, and help prevent their health from deteriorating further. Cuts to home support in BC have seriously compromised the effectiveness of these services. This report lays out three policy recommendations that would strengthen and expand home support in a practical and cost-effective way. The paper calls for an increase of the provincial home support budget by $100 million per year in order to implement the proposed reforms. Injecting new funding in the home support system is an opportunity to make a sound investment in community care and increase the quality of life of frail seniors, while achieving long-term cost savings for the health system.
Accesible, high-quality care for seniors : this issue touches everyone at some point in their lives — seniors receiving health services, people caring for aging relatives, anyone who worries about what their own life will be like when they grow old.
Carla talks about the challenges of helping seniors as a home support worker.
In British Columbia, home support services have been cut back in recent years. Home support helps seniors to live independently at home. Workers provide personal care services such as assistance with bathing and dressing, as well as help with medications and simple wound dressings.
Video by Goh Iromoto.
Accesible, high-quality care for seniors: this issue touches everyone at some point in their lives — seniors receiving health services, people caring for aging relatives, anyone who worries about what their own life will be like when they grow old.
Dr. Reva Adler, a geriatric physician, talks about recent changes in British Columbia's system of home and community health care for seniors.
Dr. Adler is not affiliated with any political party, nor is she a member of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which produced this video.
Video by Goh Iromoto.
This is the first chapter from a narrated video slideshow about British Columbia’s welfare system. View the rest of the slideshow here: http://vimeo.com/channels/welfare.
Welfare (or income assistance) is the program of last resort for people who find themselves without work, or who are unable to work because of a disability. It is supposed to protect people from homelessness, hunger and other hardships. BC was in the midst of an economic boom when this slideshow was created, but as we head into a recession in 2009, welfare is more vital than ever. The slideshow addresses some myths about welfare and poverty — that welfare is easy to get; that life on welfare is an easy ride; that poverty is inevitable; and that solutions to poverty are too expensive.
The slideshow includes interviews and images of people who are living on welfare benefits, as well as advocates who work with welfare recipients and/or anti-poverty groups. Several of these interviews can be watched on their own via the main Multimedia & Interactive page.
A DVD set is available from the CCPA's BC Office for $10 plus $2 shipping. It includes a TV-ready version that can be played with a DVD player, and computer-ready files. Contact Sarah at 604-801-5121 x233 or sarah[at]policyalternatives[dot]ca to request a copy.
This is the first chapter in a narrated slideshow about poverty in British Columbia and what we can do about it. View the rest of the slideshow here: http://vimeo.com/channels/bcpovertyreduction.
Features interviews with a parent struggling to make ends meet by working two jobs, and with people working on health, immigration and family well-being issues. Narrated by Seth Klein, Director of the CCPA's BC Office.
To join the campaign for a legislated poverty reduction plan in BC, visit bcpovertyreduction.ca.
Matthew, who receives disability benefits through British Columbia's welfare program, shares his thoughts about why it is so important to look after people when they hit tough times. This video is part of a slideshow about welfare (or social assistance) and poverty in British Columbia, Canada. Watch the full slideshow here.
Video by Goh Iromoto.
CCPA not only does first-rate research; it also connects with the real world by putting powerful information in the hands of advocacy groups and by presenting intelligent, progressive ideas in the media. It is a BC jewel and I urge everyone to support it.
— Kathleen Ruff, founder, RightOn Canada