Ageism element in HSN Concerns:
Seniors should not be blamed for living longer as could be interpreted in recent reports out of Health Sciences North that our Hospital system “was built at a time when people were expected to live until the age of 65” according to David McNeil, chief nursing officer and vice president of clinical programs, and that the hospital is reaching the saturation point in being able to provide care to the ever increasing demands of the aging population.
This is an element of ageism as described in the recent report of the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizen’s organizations as treating our aging population at “the burden” and “the apocalyptic picture of the future is indeed ageist” and “the sky is falling and it is falling because there are too many older people”.
The report “Shifting the Paradigm of Ageism” has a number of suggestions with respect to Health Care for Older Adults including the creation of a Provincial Ombudsman for seniors to monitor and mediate services and initiate the use of “quality of life” measures as a health care standard plus 12 specific recommendations. A copy of the report is attached and on the website www.friendlyto seniors.ca.
The co-author of the report, Elizabeth Macnab, Executive Director of the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens’ Organizations, representing over 140 seniors members and approx. 500,000 senior citizens across Ontario will be in Sudbury on Wednesday Dec. 3rd to take part with interested older adults in developing a “Roadmap for Informed Decision Making as You Age”. The interactive session is part of a project by the Coalition to create a resource tool and process to help older adults, their friends and family to deal with this critical part of life’s journey.
The presentation/workshop conducted by Ms. Macnab is being hosted by Friendly to Seniors – Sudbury and by the Sudbury Branch of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons). It will take place at Legion Branch 76 in Minnow Lake. A complimentary lunch is being provided. There is room for 60 older adults to attend the free two hour session and registration is required by calling 705-507-6037 or by e-mail to friendlytoseniors.sudbury@gmail.com.
More Information: John Lindsay, Chair, FriendlytoSeniors-Sudbury – 705-507-6037.
Attachments: Ageism Report and Dec. 3rd workshop notice, plus Ms. Macnab bio.
The site for the Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
The Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op was formed to create independent media in the North, to speak to our issues and outlooks on our communities as well as the world around us. Independent media provides an avenue for people who are wishing to gain critical perspective on the issues that matter most to us, and to give a voice to those people and stories that you won't find in the mainstream media.
The Sudbury working-group site is no longer being updated and has been archived.