Dignity Denied 2011 illustrates the flaws in our current system of long-term care and offers common sense solutions for positive change.
Ottawa (2 Dec. 2011) - Medicare as a fundamental value of the Canadian character and one of the most loved public services. It is a system based on a principle of quality care for all, regardless of wealth or social status. Yet more and more families are becoming acutely aware that much of this quality of care ends at the doors to long-term care facilities.
As part of the National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) on-going All Together Now! campaign promoting quality public services and tax fairness, NUPGE is releasing an updated edition of Dignity Denied 2011. This matter is of urgent concern to NUPGE and our 340,000 members, most of whom deliver public services and many who work in the long-term care sector.
A recent study by the Public Services Foundation of Canada demonstrates that the percentage of spending on health care measured as proportion of our national economy is decreasing. And while the public system feels the brunt of federal and provincial governments austerity programs and funding cuts, private profiteers slide in to fill the void.
Ottawa has a responsibility to provide adequate and targeted funding toward cost-sharing long-term care programs. Provincial governments and territories must also bear their share of costs and establish clear standards and guidelines governing long-term care as well as proper oversight and inspection. But the failure of governments to take these responsibilities seriously has had a devastating impact on residents, as well as the workers attempting to provide quality and compassionate care.
Dignity Denied 2011 outlines many of the bold and fundamental changes needed in the long-term care sector, such as including it in the Canada Health Act to ensure medically necessary services are available to every citizen, regardless of income, establishing targeted funding for not-for-profit care and ensuring that wages and working conditions are improved for those caring for our elderly.
"Our seniors and their families have waited long enough.We need to take the crisis in our long-term care system to the decision-makers and force a debate about the future of health care in Canada," said James Clancy NUPGE National President. "Dignity Denied 2011 is a great tool to get this long-overdue conversation started."
More information:
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
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