It's the Policies, Stupid

91 year old Mrs. Albo died after being separated from her husband while both were in hospital. Her husband just died yesterday, at 96.

The British Columbia government did a review and came up with several recommendations, some good, some not so good. Some will create, I fear, more bureaucracy, and not much more care.

But there was no acknowledgement in the Ballem report recommendations that some basic policies need to be changed. We need policies that dictate a primary objective is keeping couples together. We need policies that take into account family abilities to care for relatives and be available. We need policies that do not limit access to care because of differing care levels. We need policies that do not pressure hospital staff to make harsh and rash decisions because of bed shortages in the hospital.

Why has this come about? Many reasons. The Province closed too many beds and didn't build enough fast enough, despite whatever promises they made. They have made it harder for people to be eligible for care, and harder for them to receive home care. That creates a wide gap in terms of safety and care, which somehow, families are supposed to fill. Often they cannot because they have their own work or child commitments.

The building of new care beds and assisted living has not happened fast enough. It is also not well thought out--what happens when all of those people in assisted living need more help? Then they move again, and we end up with relocation stress, family crisis, and sometimes, death.

It's the policies, stupid.