Friday, 7 June 2013

Cam 'n Eggs - Home care user says no appeal process



My name is Shawn McCloskey, I'm at Abby Road Housing Co-op and I have a lot of concerns about the proposed changes.

For instance, after the not-for-profit care that I control, that affords me dignity and independence is gone, should I drop out of university and give up on trying to start a family? Because without the 24 hour care I have now, I am unable to do those things. And in all the meetings I've been to with AHS, I've heard of no assurances that 24-hour care will be available. This move takes away the independence of otherwise highly productive members of society. Some of our residents will lose their income without round the clock care, while others will be unable to participate in hobbies or social functions within the community. This is wrong.

More specifically, once my current care is gone, can the government assure me that I can even get out of bed in the morning? Shower? Get help going to the washroom? What if staff do not show up to for my care? Now we have back-up's upon back-up's to ensure someone will be there to carry out essential services. We work directly with our staff to make sure everyone is cared for. Does a for-profit agency really care about any of this? The relationship the Abby Road members have forged with their staff is directly related to the high quality care we have now.

And my last concern involves the very nature of my own government. They seemed to make all of these changes, and additional hardships to a group of people who already have enough to deal with, in the name of "bureaucratic efficiency", so managing the homecare system was easier on them. The government is supposed to work for the people: it is supposed to give people the means to become independent individuals, not take away those means. There was no conversation with us, no working relationship — nothing. "And if you don't like our decision", the government says, "too bad, because there's no appeal process". What does that say about us as a province?

PLEASE CONSIDER SIGNING A PETITION AGAINST HOME CARE. CLICK HERE!!!

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2 comments:

Joanna Auger said...

Cam,

I have been following your blogs for the last little while. Is there any type of public petition that is being organized so that the public can formally show support?

Joanna Auger

Unknown said...

You certainly must contact your local mla as it is his/her job to explore and present your concerns. Don't give up. The pressure is increasing for AHS to show some flexibility.