BC Care Providers Association and EngAge BC CEO Terry Lake recently appeared on various media outlets to comment on this week’s meeting with provincial Health Ministers and Federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, and the recent updates to the Family and Resident Council requirements.
In his interview on the Early Edition with Stephen Quinn on CBC Radio, Lake discussed the demand for more healthcare funding from the federal government, with each province and territory planning to decide how to use funding due to having different healthcare needs. With each region having different healthcare systems, there is a clash of jurisdictions. While difficult to implement, Lake mentions the many calls for a national standard.
“The only way to resolve those issues is that if the federal government oversees at least the objectives, and ties money to those objectives. For example, the needs of long-term care and seniors care are outpacing what is being put into that area,” says Lake. “The federal government needs to tie in some strings to see those objectives being met.”
In reference to his joint opinion piece with CALTC CEO Jodi Hall, Lake points towards the demographic shift that will be very impactful for Canadians.
“There is a demand for older Canadians and if we don’t pay attention to these needs and the more support for people to age in place, people will continue to live longer and will continue to have complex, chronic illnesses that will need 24-hour nursing care,” he says in his interview on Global News Morning.
Notably, there are not enough spaces and people to work in long-term care to meet this growing demographic shift.
“If you’re a federal taxpayer, you would want to know that the priorities of the federal government are being achieved through the money they put into the healthcare system. So, I think that targeted funds for long-term care are necessary in this round of negotiations.”
In his interview on Global News Morning, Lake also discussed updates to the Family and Resident Council requirements and how on the policy front, there will be a more formal process for forming these councils. This follows after BCCPA developed a guide to help support operators without an existing family and resident council.
Twice a year, operators will go to families and facilitate and provide resources to create them. The province and health authorities will also set up a regional council where people can come together and share best practices.
“It’s certainly something we support. We saw the worst of the pandemic and how families were separated from each other. Staff were challenged in their ability to communicate well with families because they were looking after those families’ loved ones. This formalizes it.”
Read BCCPA’s announcement of the Resident and Family Council changes here and listen to the CBC Radio interviews below:
CBC Early Edition with Stephen Quinn
CBC Daybreak South with Chris Walker
CBC Daybreak Kamloops with Shelley Joyce
CBC On The Island with Gregor Craigie
CBC Daybreak North with Carolina de Ryk
