Long Term Care in Calgary
Calgary has not always had the best reputation for its senior/elder care or long term care options for the elderly. In 2007, the Calgary Health Region terminated a contract with the controversial long term care facility Holy Cross Centre, forcing 42 elderly residents to move. In July 2009, the Calgary Sun reported that Alberta has fewer beds available for long term care today than it did twenty years ago. And even more recently, in September 2009, Alberta health minister Ron Liepert demanded a revamp of health care laws in his province, in part because of an elderly woman who died as a result of a mix-up in her dialysis treatment.
It’s clear that in the last few years, Calgary has started to work hard to improve the long term care quality and options for its most vulnerable citizens. In particular, Alberta is currently working on plans to increase the number of long term care options available to elders and seniors. New initiatives call for an increase to in-home senior/elder care, more supportive living options, and upgrades to existing nursing homes.
“Aging in the Right Place”
In 2008, Alberta started the health initiative called “Aging in the Right Place”, whose goal was to help seniors and elders remain independent as long as possible, delaying moves into nursing homes. This long term care and continuing care health initiative has focused on the goals of increasing the hours and programs available to seniors who want long term care at home, introducing new technology to connect seniors to health care professionals, and introducing new emergency support programs.
The Future of Long Term Care in Calgary
Like other areas of the country, Calgary is actively addressing issues associated with long term care and senior/elder care. Although it has had a few bumps in the road in terms of providing the kind of long term care seniors need, its new health initiatives are very promising and suggest that long term care and senior/elder care in the region will soon improve greatly.
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