A recent public statement by doctors and nursing home lobbyists on the state of healthcare and hospital care, especially for seniors, gives only a partial picture of both the problem and the solution.
- When we speak of home care and special care homes, we are speaking about a community based sector that has been woefully under resourced for years in comparison with hospitals and nursing homes.
- Investment is needed in this community based sector improving both the service rates and the wages and benefits of workers in special care homes, home support agencies, community residences, and in programs providing various forms of day support to people of all ages in the community.
- Continued talk of austerity policies by government in public services when it applies to this community based sector simply will prevent effective action being taken.
- Government has a serious revenue problem where if taxes were restored to the 2009/10 levels with a significant portion of the additional tax revenue strategically earmarked for this community based sector then we would be on the road to solving the problem.
- As important as doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes are the solution does not lie solely or mostly with them. Nor does it lie with cutting public services. Instead it lies with strategic investment in community based services and in making the existing public services, especially in health and social services, work more effectively.
The New Brunswick Human Services Coalition represents home care, special care homes, community residences, vocational and day programs, and community based family support and attendant care for children, families, adults, and seniors.
