Vol. 121, No. 47, February 1, 2012









 

Editorial


Independence an essential component of later-life care

This week, we brought readers a story about Dundas Manor residents who are determined to continue doing the hobbies they love after moving into Winchester's long-term care facility.
While the manor is, technically, an institution, various resident volunteers do their best to assist staff members and make their new "house" a home.
Whether they're sewing crafts or playing piano for fellow residents, these folks have refused to let their publicly funded living environments define them as human beings.
It cannot be easy to live, suddenly, with roommates if you've enjoyed independence and privacy most of your life. (Actually, with four beds to a room in some cases, the Dundas Manor sleeping quarters bear a striking resemblance to college dorms.)
It's important for Canadians to have a frank discussion about the emotional health of seniors who live not just in nursing homes, but also with family members, in their own traditional residences, or in assisted living situations or retirement homes.
Due to a demographic shift caused by the large cohort known as Baby Boomers, there are more "seniors" (defined as someone aged 65 plus) in Canada than ever before. The percentage of the national population aged 65 or older has been steadily increasing for years. According to Statistics Canada, in 2007, 4.4 million people (13 per cent of the population)_qualified as "seniors," compared to 11 per cent in 1987 and eight per cent in 1972.
All provincial governments must take a serious look at the structure of their health-care facilities and strengthen partnerships with community organizations. In rural areas, like our own here in Eastern Ontario, we must place a priority on mobile regional services ­ like Meals on Wheels, operated through organizations like the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors' Support Centre in Williamsburg or the Nor-Dun Seniors' Support Centre in Winchester. Families should be given a helping hand as much as possible, and our older residents need (affordable) access to assisted living, retirement homes, and specialized programs to ensure everyone can remain independent and healthy for as long as possible.
Self-determined activities and independence should remain a right of all Canadians for the duration of their adult lives. The public sector has a major role to play in reaching this goal. An emphasis on emotional health must be prioritized before nursing home residency even becomes an option for any Canadian ­ and should continue long afterwards, too.


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