Seniors take minister to task over request for advocate

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This article was published 29/06/2022 (946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A retirees group has scolded the Progressive Conservative government for dismissing suggestions of an independent seniors advocate in a scathing letter to Seniors Minister Scott Johnston.

The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons wrote to Johnston on Monday to decry the government’s refusal to establish an advocate. It also cited a lack of engagement on issues beyond long-term care.

“Seniors issues, if you’re lucky to live long enough, we will all have a slice of this pie,” chapter president Carol-Ann Borody-Siemens told the Free Press. “We are suggesting shifting their approach to be more proactive. Get ahead of this stuff. The baby boomers are coming. There are going to be more, not less.

“It’s too important and there are too many of us that will be affected by it,” she said.

Borody-Siemens said she penned the letter following a meeting with Johnston in May, where the association planned to discuss the need for a seniors advocate and hear how the new department would address issues of affordability, housing, transportation and aging-in-place.

However, Borody-Siemens said the group left the meeting dejected after discussion of a seniors advocate was shut down.

“I thank you for your crystal clear position that your government is not interested in any way, shape or form in the formulation of an advocate,” Borody-Siemens wrote in the letter, which was sent to all members of the legislature.

“That, plus your total lack of desire to include our organization or our individual members in the process, was also helpful as it tells us that continuing discussions with you and your government on this topic is a waste of time and energy.”

The letter expressed concern about a lack of representation of long-term care residents and their families on the province’s seniors advisory committee.

“The participants on this committee are all from those that work or have worked in the sphere of senior care: very capable and competent individuals, but we see this as a conflict of interest, plus it sounds very paternal to me,” the letter stated.

In the letter, Borody-Siemens said CARP members were shocked the minister did not offer to include the organization in planning or consultation. It closed by stating CARP Manitoba, which has about 3,800 members, would turn its focus to the next election, in 2023.

Borody-Siemens said she has concerns with the mandate, commitment and direction of the department in the wake of the meeting with Johnston. Seniors’ issues must be depoliticized through the creation of an independent advocate, similar to the Manitoba children’s advocate, she said.

“Seniors, for government, seem to focus on health care and long-term care. Seniors and our concerns are so much more than that,” she said.

Premier Heather Stefanson established the department in January. Its mandate is to implement all recommendations from the Stevenson Review, which was produced in the wake of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Maples Personal Care Home in late 2020, and to represent seniors and advocate on their issues.

To date, the province has committed $31 million to follow through on the recommendations, provided $31,000 for elder abuse prevention, and launched a consultation process to develop a seniors strategy.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the association’s letter is a “devastating criticism” of the Tory government less than a week after allegations of abuse at a Winnipeg long-term care home were made public.

On June 21, long-term care operator Extendicare and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said two health-care aides at Oakview Place had been accused of mistreating 15 residents of the home.

“The only way we’re going to solve this is if families and seniors have an independent seniors advocate to go to,” Lamont said. “For Johnston to just ignore what people are saying, dismiss their concerns, and plow ahead is just appalling.”

In a statement, NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said the Tories are “refusing to be proactive when it comes to protecting seniors” in personal care homes.

“Seniors in Manitoba want a government that listens and works with them to make our province a better place to age with dignity.”

The minister’s office released a statement late Tuesday.

“The public consultations are in addition to forming and activating a minister’s advisory group comprised of organizations supporting and working with seniors. A community engagement network of up to 50 organizations and individuals who work closely with seniors will play a vital role supporting older Manitobans with a variety of consultation techniques.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

Danielle Da Silva
Reporter

Danielle Da Silva is a general assignment reporter.

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