Podcast – Gentle Advocacy for Seniors – BjK Seniors Advocate interviewed by Karin Mizgala of Women’s Financial Learning Centre and Money Coaches Canada

Gentle Advocacy BjK Seniors Advocate

Tune into the first podcast/audio of Barbara Kirby’s journey into becoming a Seniors Advocate and the services she offers to seniors and their families through her company BjK Seniors Advocate.  (aprox 25 min)

Later Life Plan – Who Will Look Out For You?

Imagine being on your own, elderly, frail, struggling to manage, not having someone to speak up for you or not knowing how to get the help you need? This is the case for a growing number of seniors who live alone and have no family members or close friends to help them. With lower birthrates and increasing life expectancy, Statistics Canada predicts seniors will outnumber children by 2015.ⁱ The number of one-person households climbed almost 12 percent over five years, family sizes are decreasing and more people are choosing to live alone.

The reality is that being frail or physically weak does not mean end of life. Although you may be frail, speaking more quietly, responding more slowly, mentally you may be as sharp as you were in earlier years and you may have many years left to live. This is a key point to think about because this is when the issue of quality of life is most essential.

A growing number of seniors are asking to have a personal advocate to speak up for them. They want someone to represent them in their daily life and with health care issues, and to ensure they continue to be treated as individuals and to have their rights and values respected. The important point to note is to make plans while you have the energy and can still make realistic choices.

An in-home aide can make all the difference — but not if anyone becomes jealous or uncomfortable. How to help a spouse who’s jealous of a care aide.

Mom is Jealous of Dad’s Caregiver

Seniors housing needs not being addressed

Seniors housing needs not being addressed

– The Best of Care (Part 2): Getting it Right for Seniors in British Columbia. recommendation highlights

Seniors to shape advocate’s role as part of action plan

News Release from Gov’t B.C. recommendation highlights

IMPROVING THE CARE OF SENIORS: OMBUDSPERSON RELEASES REPORT WITH 176 RECOMMENDATIONS

Best of Care News Release final

Long Term Care Insurance in Canada, what is it?

Long Term Care Insurance in Canada, what is it?
Written by Cindy O’Donnell, BA, CHU, Licenced Advisor living in Ontario

Like many Canadians you probably have worked hard for your money and hope that when you retire you will have enough money saved to enjoy a decent retirement. If you are like most Canadians you know that the longer you live the higher your chances are of needing some kind of care either due to the aging process, illness or a disability. If you are already caring for aging parents you have probably been surprised at the cost of care and what is and isn’t covered by the government or your health plan. So what happens if this happens to you, will your family be able to care for you; do you have enough money saved? If not, you might what to learn more about Long Term Care Insurance.
Long Term Care Insurance is a fairly new type of insurance in Canada. It is intended to pay for expenses incurred as a result of some form of disability. This type of insurance will pay for some or all of your long term care needs, depending on the coverage selected. Long term care may be needed at home, in a facility setting and may be for a short period of time or your lifetime. Most importantly the benefit amount that you would receive is tax free.
If you want to stay independent, keep your dignity and choose the type of care you want, then this type of insurance is something you may want to consider. If you have significant assets and income and you want to protect some of them, this insurance could help do just that. There are only a few insurance companies in Canada that offer this type of insurance and right now these policies are not standardized so price and type of insurance coverage vary. This is why it is important that you do your due diligence in researching this type of insurance. Things you should look for when researching this type of insurance are how do the benefits pay out (are they just for home care, facility or both), do you have to show receipts for care, can premiums increase, what are the benefit triggers (this is extremely important to know), and what are the elimination or waiting period for benefits to begin.
Is this insurance expensive? Depends on how you define expensive. In most cases it is cost effective, since the cost of care is on the rise. Policy premiums are based on your gender, and age. The younger you are when you purchase the lower the premium. By delaying purchasing long term care until your older you may run the risk of your health changing and you may become uninsurable. The costs vary depending on the benefit amount you choose and the type of plan you choose. When choosing a plan don’t base your decision on cost alone, judge the value of the policy benefits a few extra premium dollars may prove to be money well spent.

www.cindyodonnell.ca

“Crisis Behind Closed Doors” Rob Vipond , Focus magazine (June 2011)

The Globe and Mail (January 16, 2012) article (Section S) “Anti-psychotic  drugs given to half of elderly at care centres”  by Wendy Stueck  cites a recent (December  2011) report:  “A review of the Use of Anti-Psychotic Drugs in B. C. Care Facilities”  According to the Globe and Mail, the Ministry of Health will be developing  province-wide  guidelines for the medications.

→Anti-psychotic drug use in residential care facilities in BC?

→Will this troubling use of medication finally,  be addressed by the Ministry of Health?

The use of antipsychotic drugs in residential care facilities in BC has been of great concern for some time.  This is long overdue good news.

This Globe and Mail Article can be read online, simply  google:  Globe and  Mail  January 16, 2012  Anti-psychotic drugs elderly What you can do…

Now, is an opportune time to contact your MLA and the Minister of Health to indicate your concerns and experiences with the use of antipsychotic drugs in BC residential care facilities.   Good, appropriate care is possible without the use of anti-psychotic drugs. use-of-antipsychotic-drugs

For background and insight, read “Crisis Behind Closed Doors”:http://focusonline.ca/?q=node/237

Thank you ACR for pointing us to this article, and encouraging dialogue with MLA’s and Minster of Health

Alzheimers Society B.C. Family Caregiver Series

• Family Caregiver Series Poster – North Shore – JanFeb 2012A three – 3-hour series for family members who are caring for a person with dementia. Learn about dementia, practical coping strategies and early planning. The Family Caregiver Series covers the following topics: 8   Understanding Dementia 8   Understanding Communication 8   Understanding Behaviour 8   Planning for the Future 8   Self-Care for Caregivers When: Saturdays: January 28, February 4 & 11 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Where:  West Van Community Centre 2121 Marine Dr. 1st Floor,  Garden Room,                      West Vancouver