Local BC Seniors’ Health Society: Going Strong at Fifth AGM
April 17, 2011
by Laura Farnsworth
(L) Bud Godderis (SPCS), Joan McKenzie (President SPCS), (R) Tom McEwan Greater Trail Hospice Photo: ©Laura Farnsworth
With the amount of energy palpable in the room, it is immediately apparent that these seniors are just hitting their stride, showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
About 40 seniors with a mission, gathered at 1:30 on Sunday April 17th in Trail’s Senior Centre basement hall for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Seniors’ (SPCS) fifth Annual General Meeting, which is also open to the public.
This number represents about 270 members on their books. “Due to transportation, mobility or other commitments, many of our members will keep in touch via e-mailed reports and their personal networks,” said Carol Albo, a founder and current Membership Registrar. She goes on to give examples: “One key member is care giving at home to a partner in his nineties. Another, an SPCS Director and BC Health Coalition Liaison Ron Cameron, is actually providing necessary medical treatment transportation to Kelowna for a friend – a situation that underscores the need for an integrated, medically related Kootenay-Okanagan transportation system.”
A glance at their ambitious agenda, chaired by President Joan McKenzie, foretells that this hour and a half time slot will easily go into over time. Amongst the standard AGM fare of Executive reports, minutes and election of new officers for the 2011-2012 year, are SPCS liaison reports for the BC Health Coalition, Connected Communities and Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre, a BC organization that deals with representation agreements in case of accident, illness or impairment and you have lost your ability to adequately represent yourself.
If that weren’t jam packed enough, then add a guest speaker and a film presentation-discussion and you’ve got a meeting that lasted well into the late afternoon. It’s a program that could easily lend itself to a full day seminar or workshop, which is a credit to its organizers.
The group’s Executive is made up of mostly retirees, many with backgrounds in social work, clergy, nursing, health care and teaching; others there simply because they felt a call to help, support and to be proactive.
The President’s, Connected Communities’ & BC Health Coalition Liaison’s reports listed an impressive array of activities and accomplishments that have taken place over the very busy 2010/11 year. To name a few: A meeting with Castlegar Regional Transit supervisor Sharman Thomas resulted in his agreement to take transportation concerns to Victoria such as need for a regional system, improved access to schedules information and redesigning some routes for easier access to KBR hospital; pressing for elimination of convalescent fees at BC hospitals; advocating for a Seniors’ health care advocate for BC; tracking & accessing Castlegar Health Watch’s Sally Williams’ prepared report on West Kootenay health care services lost since 2002, monitoring IHA’s 31 top level administrators’ salary ranges: $98,494.80 to $298,314.73; preparing pre-election packages to inform Federal, Provincial and Municipal candidates of current issues & needs in BC health care; and the general support the SPCS members give as individuals or via group action -- which encompasses their mandate of being dedicated to the concept of universal, publicly funded, accessible health care.
For those not familiar with the history of SPCS’s grass roots beginnings, it was conceived out of what is now known as The Albo Case. Borne from a February 2006 tragedy that involved founding member Jim Albo trying to cope with the aftermath of what he refers to as “IHA’s procedural nightmare.” Both his parents were patients in the Trail hospital at the time, when, suddenly, and contrary to the family’s wishes, his mother was transferred to a long-term care facility in Grand Forks. Two days later she passed away and his father died just 10 days following that.
Since then, every February a vigil is held by Jim and his loyal group of SPCS supporters, to underscore not only the anniversary of the somber events, but the need for such things as more local long term beds and the development of a reality-based BC health care system that integrates all of a senior’s health care needs throughout his or her continuum of care.
These needs were nicely highlighted by guest speaker and board member Tom McEwan from Greater Trail Hospice Society, as well as Bud Godderis who showed a 30 minute Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) produced film called The Remaining Light.
Tom, a Board member of the recently formed Greater Trail Hospice Society, brought attendees up-to-date about Hospice services in our area.
He reported that Hospice services have been provided here for about 25 years. During this period it was within the Health Care system. Other towns formed Societies. He said that in the last few years the service included an Advisory Committee to IHA, a qualified Hospice/Palliative Care Social Worker, a Volunteer Co-ordinator, and a well-trained dedicated team of about 40 hospice care volunteers. “A very satisfactory service was provided.”
“Then in the spring of 2010, with little notice, IHA deleted the Social Worker position. The members of the Advisory Committee took positive action and formed the Greater Trail Hospice Society. IHA currently provides funding for the Volunteer Co-ordinator, offices, telephone, and a computer,” he said.
The Society has now formed a strong Board and, thankfully, has the heart of the enterprise - the volunteers. For the foreseeable future the Society is dedicated to providing the best possible caring presence to persons approaching the end of life and their families. This includes working to reinstate the very important work done by the Social Worker.
Tom indicated that the long term goal of the Society is to create a free standing Hospice -- a facility fully dedicated to end of life care. Further Information Contact: Sandy Simmonds-Johnson, Kiro Wellness Centre in Trail. Tel: 364-6204.
The meeting ended with the screening of the documentary The Remaining Light. Filmed in British Columbia, and released in February 2011, it underscores why we need a continuum of care for seniors and gave some statistics. For example, since 2001 the population of BC seniors aged 85 and older has increased by 43% and yet residential care beds have decreased by a count of 804. It is a well-known fact that the majority of seniors, ideally, want to live independently in their own homes. To achieve this, they need community-based services, to provide care to seniors as they age and progress into the end of life, final phase. Lest we forget that the Boomers of today are the Seniors of tomorrow.
The CCPA-describes its video as - “Featuring stories of seniors and their families, exploring themes of dignity, preventing illness and social isolation, and keeping health care costs under control as the boomer generation ages. Currently the BC Ombudsperson is carrying out an investigation into a fragmented and under funded system of seniors’ care. But the film's themes and stories will resonate with people across Canada who worry that we are not providing seniors with the dignity and respect they deserve.” Bud Godderis added that if any group wishes to borrow the DVD for a showing, they are welcome to contact him.
Perhaps regarded by some as a “grass roots-watchdog group” it is generally conceded by many that it is really yet another sad commentary on the efficacy of our BC health care system vis à vis our seniors, that SPCS even needs to exist at all, let alone grow and develop five long years after the Albo Case. Everyone connected with SPCS seems to be driven by the same mandate first voiced by Jim Albo: To keep meeting, attending vigils and giving their time, energy and expertise to SPCS “until there are changes for the better.”
Have we seen these yet? When asked to comment on IHA’s recent (April 13th) announcement that it has made “an additional investment of $5.9 million to residents living in publicly funded residential care sites,” (following its CEO Dr Robert Halpenny’s tour of facilities in Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, New Denver, Nakusp, Kaslo & Grand Forks) SPCS’s Carol Albo needed a few clarifications:
“When I read that ‘The funding will go toward hiring four coordinators to maintain care standards … one will be based in the Kootenays.’ I immediately started to wonder how much of the $5.9 M will go to pay benefits, holidays, company cars, pensions and severances? I think what really needs to happen is that the front line staff need more front line staff hired. Does this mean this is not a pre-election announcement of new money for health care, but rather, finally, an accountability of where the increased money families had to pay for their care facility residents, over those past two years, is now going to be spent?”
On the plus side, Albo applauds that IHA’s announcement stated that particular attention would go to enhance care for those residential clients with the most complex needs. However, she said, “I wish there’d been a list of how that was going to directlyhappen. --- We can only hope that there are sufficient funds left over, after the administration hierarchy is increased, yet again.”
SPCS does not have a web site as yet, but are open to and would be very grateful for offers from any local professionals who would like to donate time, energy & expertise toward building them one and helping to maintain it. In the meantime – for SPCS enquiries/further information, contact (Past) President, Joan McKenzie at: (250) 368-9509 or E-mail: [email protected]. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Seniors (SPCS)
FEATURE ARTICLE & Photo: Fifth AGM -- April 17th 2011, Trail BC
Edited version printed in Trail Daily Times newspaper on April 29, 2011
©Laura Farnsworth
Writer, Trail BC
[email protected]
April 20, 2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
About 40 seniors with a mission, gathered at 1:30 on Sunday April 17th in Trail’s Senior Centre basement hall for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Seniors’ (SPCS) fifth Annual General Meeting, which is also open to the public.
This number represents about 270 members on their books. “Due to transportation, mobility or other commitments, many of our members will keep in touch via e-mailed reports and their personal networks,” said Carol Albo, a founder and current Membership Registrar. She goes on to give examples: “One key member is care giving at home to a partner in his nineties. Another, an SPCS Director and BC Health Coalition Liaison Ron Cameron, is actually providing necessary medical treatment transportation to Kelowna for a friend – a situation that underscores the need for an integrated, medically related Kootenay-Okanagan transportation system.”
A glance at their ambitious agenda, chaired by President Joan McKenzie, foretells that this hour and a half time slot will easily go into over time. Amongst the standard AGM fare of Executive reports, minutes and election of new officers for the 2011-2012 year, are SPCS liaison reports for the BC Health Coalition, Connected Communities and Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre, a BC organization that deals with representation agreements in case of accident, illness or impairment and you have lost your ability to adequately represent yourself.
If that weren’t jam packed enough, then add a guest speaker and a film presentation-discussion and you’ve got a meeting that lasted well into the late afternoon. It’s a program that could easily lend itself to a full day seminar or workshop, which is a credit to its organizers.
The group’s Executive is made up of mostly retirees, many with backgrounds in social work, clergy, nursing, health care and teaching; others there simply because they felt a call to help, support and to be proactive.
The President’s, Connected Communities’ & BC Health Coalition Liaison’s reports listed an impressive array of activities and accomplishments that have taken place over the very busy 2010/11 year. To name a few: A meeting with Castlegar Regional Transit supervisor Sharman Thomas resulted in his agreement to take transportation concerns to Victoria such as need for a regional system, improved access to schedules information and redesigning some routes for easier access to KBR hospital; pressing for elimination of convalescent fees at BC hospitals; advocating for a Seniors’ health care advocate for BC; tracking & accessing Castlegar Health Watch’s Sally Williams’ prepared report on West Kootenay health care services lost since 2002, monitoring IHA’s 31 top level administrators’ salary ranges: $98,494.80 to $298,314.73; preparing pre-election packages to inform Federal, Provincial and Municipal candidates of current issues & needs in BC health care; and the general support the SPCS members give as individuals or via group action -- which encompasses their mandate of being dedicated to the concept of universal, publicly funded, accessible health care.
For those not familiar with the history of SPCS’s grass roots beginnings, it was conceived out of what is now known as The Albo Case. Borne from a February 2006 tragedy that involved founding member Jim Albo trying to cope with the aftermath of what he refers to as “IHA’s procedural nightmare.” Both his parents were patients in the Trail hospital at the time, when, suddenly, and contrary to the family’s wishes, his mother was transferred to a long-term care facility in Grand Forks. Two days later she passed away and his father died just 10 days following that.
Since then, every February a vigil is held by Jim and his loyal group of SPCS supporters, to underscore not only the anniversary of the somber events, but the need for such things as more local long term beds and the development of a reality-based BC health care system that integrates all of a senior’s health care needs throughout his or her continuum of care.
These needs were nicely highlighted by guest speaker and board member Tom McEwan from Greater Trail Hospice Society, as well as Bud Godderis who showed a 30 minute Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) produced film called The Remaining Light.
Tom, a Board member of the recently formed Greater Trail Hospice Society, brought attendees up-to-date about Hospice services in our area.
He reported that Hospice services have been provided here for about 25 years. During this period it was within the Health Care system. Other towns formed Societies. He said that in the last few years the service included an Advisory Committee to IHA, a qualified Hospice/Palliative Care Social Worker, a Volunteer Co-ordinator, and a well-trained dedicated team of about 40 hospice care volunteers. “A very satisfactory service was provided.”
“Then in the spring of 2010, with little notice, IHA deleted the Social Worker position. The members of the Advisory Committee took positive action and formed the Greater Trail Hospice Society. IHA currently provides funding for the Volunteer Co-ordinator, offices, telephone, and a computer,” he said.
The Society has now formed a strong Board and, thankfully, has the heart of the enterprise - the volunteers. For the foreseeable future the Society is dedicated to providing the best possible caring presence to persons approaching the end of life and their families. This includes working to reinstate the very important work done by the Social Worker.
Tom indicated that the long term goal of the Society is to create a free standing Hospice -- a facility fully dedicated to end of life care. Further Information Contact: Sandy Simmonds-Johnson, Kiro Wellness Centre in Trail. Tel: 364-6204.
The meeting ended with the screening of the documentary The Remaining Light. Filmed in British Columbia, and released in February 2011, it underscores why we need a continuum of care for seniors and gave some statistics. For example, since 2001 the population of BC seniors aged 85 and older has increased by 43% and yet residential care beds have decreased by a count of 804. It is a well-known fact that the majority of seniors, ideally, want to live independently in their own homes. To achieve this, they need community-based services, to provide care to seniors as they age and progress into the end of life, final phase. Lest we forget that the Boomers of today are the Seniors of tomorrow.
The CCPA-describes its video as - “Featuring stories of seniors and their families, exploring themes of dignity, preventing illness and social isolation, and keeping health care costs under control as the boomer generation ages. Currently the BC Ombudsperson is carrying out an investigation into a fragmented and under funded system of seniors’ care. But the film's themes and stories will resonate with people across Canada who worry that we are not providing seniors with the dignity and respect they deserve.” Bud Godderis added that if any group wishes to borrow the DVD for a showing, they are welcome to contact him.
Perhaps regarded by some as a “grass roots-watchdog group” it is generally conceded by many that it is really yet another sad commentary on the efficacy of our BC health care system vis à vis our seniors, that SPCS even needs to exist at all, let alone grow and develop five long years after the Albo Case. Everyone connected with SPCS seems to be driven by the same mandate first voiced by Jim Albo: To keep meeting, attending vigils and giving their time, energy and expertise to SPCS “until there are changes for the better.”
Have we seen these yet? When asked to comment on IHA’s recent (April 13th) announcement that it has made “an additional investment of $5.9 million to residents living in publicly funded residential care sites,” (following its CEO Dr Robert Halpenny’s tour of facilities in Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, New Denver, Nakusp, Kaslo & Grand Forks) SPCS’s Carol Albo needed a few clarifications:
“When I read that ‘The funding will go toward hiring four coordinators to maintain care standards … one will be based in the Kootenays.’ I immediately started to wonder how much of the $5.9 M will go to pay benefits, holidays, company cars, pensions and severances? I think what really needs to happen is that the front line staff need more front line staff hired. Does this mean this is not a pre-election announcement of new money for health care, but rather, finally, an accountability of where the increased money families had to pay for their care facility residents, over those past two years, is now going to be spent?”
On the plus side, Albo applauds that IHA’s announcement stated that particular attention would go to enhance care for those residential clients with the most complex needs. However, she said, “I wish there’d been a list of how that was going to directlyhappen. --- We can only hope that there are sufficient funds left over, after the administration hierarchy is increased, yet again.”
SPCS does not have a web site as yet, but are open to and would be very grateful for offers from any local professionals who would like to donate time, energy & expertise toward building them one and helping to maintain it. In the meantime – for SPCS enquiries/further information, contact (Past) President, Joan McKenzie at: (250) 368-9509 or E-mail: [email protected]. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Seniors (SPCS)
FEATURE ARTICLE & Photo: Fifth AGM -- April 17th 2011, Trail BC
Edited version printed in Trail Daily Times newspaper on April 29, 2011
©Laura Farnsworth
Writer, Trail BC
[email protected]
April 20, 2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________