My personal struggle caring for my aging parents has been on my mind due to the lack of support systems in place especially within First Nation communities. Everyone is so busy with their own personal lives that they really don’t have the time or energy to support you. When you come from a small family and your siblings are not close by to assist you it makes things a lot tougher.
Our local seniors program basically addresses the social needs of elders living in the community by providing a daily luncheon and once a month outings such as bowling, shopping and dinners for special occasions. The Ontario Works office provides a home care worker; however, the list is long as to what services they don’t provide. This individual is a qualified Personal support worker; however, I am still not entirely sure as to what specific services they provide. The constant message from administration is annoying as they continually advise they have no funding. An individual is only allowed a few hours per week of service.
When elderly people get sick in the community it’s totally up to the family to provide all the necessary care. What if you are limited in your resources such as family, financial, transportation, community support or if you work full-time?
A friend of mine was visiting a terminally ill community member, she entered the house, and the odour was pungent. She evaluated the situation and determined that the senior was lying within her own feces. She immediately called the local health centre and they sent over a registered nurse to provide personal support care. The Health Centre’s recommendation’s was to train the adult children to care for their mother. I was thinking to myself that they can barely cope with the prospect of their mother dying and and can barely take care of themselves due to their addictions.
Who is responsible for dying in dignity? What is the support system if the family is dysfunctional in this scenario?
I was listening to a news broadcast recently and they were interviewing a woman who was taking care of her aging parents and her story was so familiar. The issue is universal. Community organizations are setting up support groups in the cities for the caregiver to have access to a self-help group. Facebook was also offered as a solution for care givers to stay connected with people.
Upon researching the issue further in terms of our government role in providing solutions I was able to find an article posted online which offered the following neo conservative perspective:
“The Liberal Women’s caucus today said that the Harper government’s callous and badly misinformed response to the Liberal Family Care Plan further illustrates just how out of touch the Conservatives are from the everyday realities of Canadian families struggling with the costs of caring for sick or aging loved ones. Minister Finley insults caregivers by telling them to use their vacation time to look after dying family members,” said Liberal MP Marlene Jennings, who is a former family caregiver herself". (Liberal Family Care Plan, 2011)
Well if this is the position from the current Federal Government and I think the struggle will only get worse and not better.
The recent cuts to the Ontario Works program will definitely impact the home care position as the wages are covered under the discretionary fund. This line item has been eliminated by the Ontario budget cuts(CBC News, 2012). (National Post, 2012).
Citizens affected by aging parents are taking charge and initiating community based support programs. I am not sure a support group in a small community of four hundred people will work on the reserve but it’s worth considering.
Miigwetch
Janet
REFERENCES
Liberal Family Care Plan 2011
Retrieved from http://liberal.ca/newsroom/liberalfamilycareplan
Ontario 2012 Budget
Retrieved from http://nationalpost.com/ontario2012budget
Social Assistance cuts worry First Nation resident
Janet, thank you for sharing this, it truly was eye opening. I come from many generations of younger parents, so I have yet to experience this situation, but your words definitely made me stop and think about it. I do feel that there should be some type of support for these elderly people, as it seems that they become forgotten once they are no longer able to be actively productive. I respect your culture highly, and I know that elders are very important people, not only within your beliefs but many cultures around the world. Many traditions are now being over-looked due to financial difficulties and personal abilities with trying to maintain one's own basic needs. Our social structure is definitely something that needs to reconsider the basic needs and respect aspect for the elder groups, they were highly important to us during their productive years, and that knowledge alone is something worth respected and honored. I hope that one day they are supported by the social system that was designed to support them.
ReplyDelete-Elizabeth
Hi Janet! Your post stirred a feeling of anger within me. It's appalling that some older adults don't get proper care because the programs that should come to aid in these kind of situations have insufficient funds; yet the government has plenty of money to put towards mining and alcohol. It's heart-breaking. These are our elders. Where would we be without them? I don't know who is making the decisions here in Canada in regards to where money goes, but it would appear as though whoever is in charge has forgotten about their parents, their grandparents, and all they have done for them in a lifetime. I know they say the love of family is unconditional, but how is this a way to thank our elders? Hopefully things change for the better around here. Our elders cared for us all when we were young; they raised us and helped shape us into the successful people we have become. Now it is time that we start caring and fighting for them.
ReplyDelete~ Valerie
Wow, I can see how this can be frustrating and strenuous. How enraging it is to have someone with these recognizable needs and not enough or no outlets to for help. Wouldn't it be great if everyone had the ability to care for their parents and help them in their last few years. Unfortunately with today's economy that is becoming less and less feasible.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there is some things starting to happen for the elders but it would be nice if relief for the family and the elders could happen a little quicker.
-Denise
Janet, thank you for your eloquent expression of a difficult topic. As someone who has tremendous respect for the older adults in my life, I'm appalled at what they may be facing when their age gets the best of them. Of course it's extremely important that the family be there as people reach late life and are in need of support, love, and care; however, the cost and burden of care should not fall on the families alone (when I say burden, I am talking about the strain on families). Despite a willingness to support grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles, many families cannot afford to provide the adequate care needed in many situations. This is a good example of the destructive pattern of individualist thinking...it doesn't provide individuals and families with adequate options in terms of well-being and empowerment.
ReplyDelete-Kayla T
Janet, your blog is touching, I can complete empathize for you and your family. I am sure it must be very difficult caring for aging parents especially in a society that possibly has different views and exopectaions than you and your family. I honestly think its is horrific that the very people who are handing down this planet to us; "the older population" is being treated so poorly by services and such. They should be able to retire with dignity and grow old gracefully enjoying the remaing time they have here with us.
ReplyDeleteI hope it gets better
Take care and great job with the blog
Angela "Northern and Rural group"
I had worked with the elderly as a home support worker on my reserve for 20 years when I was younger. I enjoyed working with the Anishinaabe people. They share alot of stories from the past and how things used to be. Our elderly on my First Nation do get the best possible care. Although, it would be nice to have an old age home. Many of these elders don't like leaving their homes and community.
ReplyDeleteArlene (older adults group)