We are writing today to thank you for sending a letter to Premier Campbell demanding that the provincial government make critical changes to improve the health of BC's seniors. To date, over 6500 British Columbians have signed on to the BC Health Coalition's call for changes to our health care system that will ensure that BC's seniors and people with disabilities get the high-quality, accessible public health care they deserve and be able to to live with dignity and respect.
You may be aware that last October, the government increased rates for residential care residents from 70% of their income to 80%, but for many seniors it translates to far more than a 10% increase in fees as other subsidies disappear and hardships aggravate their financial solvency. This regressive user fee increase is causing substantial financial and emotional strain on residents and their families.
We are looking for personal stories to help illustrate the harm this decision will have, and we are asking for your help.
The Hospital Employees Union, a BCHC member organization, is leading a research project designed to collect stories of people affected by this fee increase. This will help the BCHC to mount a campaign to oppose the fee increase and broadly enhance the level of seniors care in BC, thanks in part to the BC Ombudsperson's report last month with recommendations for improvement.
Researchers would like to interview 10 residents/families over the next few weeks from among all 5 regional health authorities and are looking at residents' financial conditions before and after the fee increases, the nature of subsidies and/or their disappearance, how residents' lifestyle is affected by the rate increases, whether sites are jumping the gun on the 2 year implementation, how the changes affect residents' supporting families' financial condition, and what kind of stress this change is having on everyone involved.
Names will be changed and personal information about individuals and residences will be protected to avoid any concerns interviewees might have. Interviewees will also have the option of being involved in a video interview project that may follow up this research project.
If you know of anyone who would be interested in helping compile stories, please speak with them about the project or ask them to project researach coordinator Stephen Elliott-Buckley at sbuckley@heu.org or 1.800.663.5813 to see how they could help.
Thanks again for supporting public health care,
Lew MacDonald
Coordinator,
BC Health Coalition
ph: 604.681.7945
fax: 604.681.7947 coordinator@bchealthcoalition.ca www.bchealthcoalition.ca |
