VANCOUVER – B.C.’s ombudperson has released the first of two reports into seniors’ care in the province outlining three key changes that could happen quickly.
This first report is about “the most frail and vulnerable” seniors who need 24-hour care and live in care facilities.
Ombudsperson Kim Carter said it was apparent early in gathering information that there were three areas where straightforward changes could quickly improve residents’ lives.
The recommended changes are:
“¢ clearly setting out the rights of seniors living in all types of residential care facilities and ensuring these rights were respected
“¢ providing timely access to useful, consistent and comparable information on residential care facilities
“¢ clarifying and providing support for the role of resident and family councils
She also recommended creating a province-wide website to share key information about care facilities and provide more support for resident and family councils.
In an introduction to the 61-page report, Carter noted some of the recommendations like posting residents’ rights have been done, others have not despite the government ministries having said they accept the "intent."
Carter states that she hopes "significant public interest in this area will encourage full and timely implementation of all our recommendations."
More to come.
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