To the editor:
Are you a senior looking for a place to live out your remaining years, or are you family members who would like to find a place for your elderly and possibly fragile ailing parent to live?
In Canada, there are 29 long-term care beds per 1,000 population aged 65 and older. There are 2,079 long-term care homes in Canada, with 198.220 long-term beds. In Canada, in 2022, there were 6,835,866+ people aged 65+. In 2021 there were 861,000 Canadians aged 85 or older (2.3% of the population). There are twice as many women in that 85-year bracket.
There are nine long-term care homes in The North West Territories and 100% are privately owned. The average cost monthly charges vary from $3,116.00 in Saskatchewan to more than 6,899+ in Ontario
Investigating in my hometown of Bradford, Ontario my Mother was offered a one-bedroom plus den with assisted living availability for $6,795 per month. Many of the other services such as massages, and eye, ear, and dental throat care are extras.
- Two freshly prepared meals daily and a continental breakfast
- Access to self-serve hospitality and refreshments
- Some diets as prescribed by a physician may be available, possibly extra with consultation fees applied.
- In-suite dining services are provided at no charge in the event of illness, or authorized by the Health and Wellness Manager
Many services that assist clients in acquiring things, like personal hygiene supplies they need, are extra charge. Many services assist the client which are included. Staying in such a place would be interesting, comfortable, and very acceptable, but who has $81,540 + taxes annually living budgeted? Even the $3,116 in Saskatchewan would cost an annual $37,392 + taxes (and extras). Most of such institutions are privately owned or Corporate Entities that basically offer these services to our loved ones who are either independently wealthy or getting ready for end-of-life situations. The costs to the clients or their families are enormous, unforgivable, and morally challenging.
According to Stats Canada, as many as 39% of Canadians have little or no savings to hold them over during their senior years. Costs for the healthcare and senior living sectors will continue to grow as we are all getting older. Challenges to seniors' rights continue to press the government to serve Canadians more, with less available. Less senior beds, housing, and staffing to service these growing demographics. Senior Living Magazine talks about a synergy between what seniors and all Canadians are facing, timely low housing starts, affordable housing starts, and medical staffing leaving their provinces and nation to find much better-paying jobs elsewhere.
My mother and I cannot afford $6,795 a month, even though the facility is top-notch. The staff is excellent too. Costs are just too far out of reach. There are lower monthly rates to be found in other institutions, but they are located far away and have long waiting lists. Sometimes timing just does not work with you. Many potential clients, during a medical health emergency, find beds in hospitals. Imagine ending your days in a hospital. Not what most of us have imagined.
This all falls upon the shoulders of our politicians and specialists/planners who knew the population was aging, and housing, beds, and staff were not available to the numbers needed. No one seems to know how to think ahead, imagine the question "WHAT IF". Our expectations must now change, and evolve with other options and alternatives to nice places where our elderly parents can live out their lives be found.
It is no wonder why MAID and euthanasia have become so popular among our financially or medically challenged seniors. Is death preferable to bankruptcy, medical alienation, isolation from family, or making your family financially broke? Sure no one believes that, but why are many thousands of seniors living out their lives in poverty and continual crisis? Where are those politicians who promised affordable homes for them?
Nowhere to be found. Heartless Corporations that could charge less for their services are always available for those with cash, pensions, and financial legacy.
Getting old sucks!!! Unless you're rich!
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
