Airdrie MLA Rob Anderson is trying to raise awareness about funding for long-term care facilities like Bethany Care Centre.
Anderson will be speaking at the Woodside Seniors Club at 411 Woodside Dr. on June 4 to get the ball rolling on advocacy and awareness surrounding funding cuts to long-term care facilities in the province.
“There have been severe funding cuts to these facilities that provide end-of-life care,” said Anderson.
“The people living at these centres are not getting the care they need and it’s by no fault of the workers. Theses residents require a lot of care even if it’s for just one person, but when each staff member has to look after seven, eight or nine people it just doesn’t work.”
The patients that have been hit the hardest, according to Anderson, are those who are the most vulnerable, including those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s and require a different level of care.
The meeting will kick off on June 4 at 6:30 p.m. and will run until 8:30 p.m.
Admission is free and all residents are welcome to attend. Anderson said he is hopeful for a good turnout of people directly affected by the Province’s cuts.
“It’s open to everyone, seniors, long-term care workers, and especially the families and friends of seniors who need this care and aren’t able to advocate for themselves,” said Anderson.
According to the MLA there is not a shortage of awareness when it comes to seniors issues in Airdrie, despite the city’s perceived image as a young community.
“I don’t think that the City is overlooking these issues, it’s more of a provincial problem,” said Anderson.
“The cuts that were made were haphazard without any kind of view to the consequences.”
Anderson will be joined by Wildrose Seniors Critic and MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake Kelly Towle on the evening to discuss recent funding cuts and what Anderson calls, “an emerging crisis in seniors long-term care.”
