Home care is an important service
My parents both use home care.
At the beginning, my Mom needed a little extra care around the house with dishes and laundry. That service has since been cut.
When they moved, there was no walk-in shower - they had to step into the bathtub. They couldn’t get into the tub safely. Now, they have 4 hours a week between them. They get two showers each per week. My parents are happy – they will put up with that so they can stay in their home.
They need contact. And of course, the winter is harder. They aren’t ready to go into a nursing home and can only stay in their home if they have adequate home care. I don’t know what sense it makes to take that little bit of care away from people, forcing them into a full-time care facility.
The reason I am writing this letter is because if seniors don’t have an advocate, their hours will likely get cut. My frustration is not with the workers, it comes from case managers cutting care.
I also have a concern that if care is getting cut now, what will happen to my generation when we are need home care?
I have talked to representatives from the office of my MPP (Pat Hoy). I got a letter saying that funding is up, but there are more people using the service, so that money is spread thin. If there are enough people living on the edge, they should write to their MPP.
Jane Katzman
Chatham