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Preamble:
WHEREAS the needs of rural Alberta seniors lodge residents are increasing beyond the service levels provided by the traditional staffing model in seniors housing facilities; and
WHEREAS small rural communities wherein the seniors housing facilities are located face challenges to provide required amenities and community supports; and
WHEREAS relocation of seniors to higher-care facilities is contrary to the Government of Alberta’s expressed desire to enable seniors to age in community (age in place), and imposes undue mental and physical stress on seniors; and
WHEREAS the mandate of the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services is to work with seniors lodge providers to expand seniors lodges and facilities to keep up with increased growth and demand;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the Government of Alberta to incentivize transportation and health care services to enable the provision of unscheduled home care for rural seniors, including those in supportive living accommodations.
Member Background:
Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic in Canada. Between 2036 and 2041, Canada’s senior population will grow to 25% of the total population. By 2051, 1 in 5 Albertans will be a senior.
Older adults continue to face unique challenges accessing required services and supports to enable them to live in their communities for as long as they desire. Of particular concern are Alberta’s seniors residing in rural seniors’ accommodations, whose needs are increasing while the availability of necessary health and social supports and services is decreasing.
Often, seniors in supportive living accommodations who require a few additional services that are minor or temporary in nature are assessed for higher levels of care simply because there are no health care workers available outside scheduled hours. Examples of such minor needs include personal hygiene support, evening medication assistance, physical support after an injury or infection, etc.
These higher levels of care come at the expense of the senior’s health and the Alberta taxpayer.
Forced relocation of seniors to different facilities (and often in different communities) decreases their quality of life through isolation, loneliness, loss of dignity, and physical and mental stress.
The cost of providing continuing care is higher than that of supportive living due to a higher resident-to-support staff ratio, specialized care, adapted facilities and equipment, etc.
Enhanced provision of training programs for Licensed Practical Nurses can increase the availability of staffing to support service provision. Furthermore, funding of transportation incentives for home care services will eliminate gaps between urban and rural healthcare provision within Alberta Health Services. The incentive to provide home care assistance within rural communities, including within supportive living facilities, will ensure a personal approach that seniors require and will reduce pressure on continuing care homes.
Incentivizing home care transportation to rural areas will allow for the provision of services and will support seniors housing foundations and the communities they call ‘home. Filling vacancies in rural supportive living facilities is a challenge. Allowing seniors to age in place contributes to a sense of community, encourages local employment and economic development, keeps rural seniors’ facilities open, and supports the viability of rural Alberta.
A similar resolution was passed at the 2024 Alberta Seniors & Community Housing Association Convention.
RMA Background:
17-23F: Sustainable Community Hospice Funding Model
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate for the Government of Alberta to implement a sustainable operational funding model for the provision of hospice services by community hospice societies across the province.
Click here to view the full resolution.
10-23F: Enhancing Home Care Services for Rural Residents in Alberta
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the Government of Alberta to enhance home care services for rural residents by increasing funding, improving accessibility, implementing innovative care models such as community-based care tailored for rural settings, and other means.
Click here to view the full resolution.
Alberta Health
Thank you for your letter regarding the resolutions passed at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Fall 2024 session. I appreciate the vital role rural municipalities play in serving Albertans, and I welcome the opportunity to provide information on Resolution 1-24F. I understand that Seniors, Community and Social Services is responding to you regarding Resolution 10-24.
Alberta Health Services
As you may be aware, in late 2023 the Government of Alberta announced a refocusing of the health care system to align services with four major pillars. As the responsibility for home care and continuing care services is moving to a new continuing care provincial health agency, we would encourage you to contact the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services in relation to Resolution 10-24F.
Seniors, Community and Social Services
Alberta’s government is refocusing the health care system to make health care better for Albertans and the front-line workers who work tirelessly every day to serve their patients.
As a part of government’s plan to refocus the health care system, I will assume the role of the sector minister, including oversight of all aspects of continuing care. This change will not interrupt service delivery in any way. This refocusing will allow government to place a unique social service lens on continuing care and deliver care more effectively and consistently throughout the province. Combining the medical and non-medical services of continuing care will provide seniors, people with disabilities and vulnerable Albertans with expanded supports and services to access the care they need and maintain their quality of life. It will ensure the full continuum of care will be available to Albertans, from continuing care, home care and community care systems to housing, social supports and wraparound services.
One of the government’s key priorities is to help seniors to age safely and independently in their homes and communities. SCSS is responding to recommendations from the Continuing Care Transformation Review to support older adults to live and age well in community by funding projects for the delivery of Social Prescribing and Non-Medical Home Supports (including assisted transportation) across the province in urban centres and rural communities. The work and funding in this space is part of a system of supports for Alberta seniors, linked with supports provided through health, housing, FCSS and financial assistance programs.
Social prescribing is a holistic approach to healthcare that bridges the gap between medical and social care services. Through this approach, health care professionals refer and connect patients to community-based programs, services and activities to improve their health and enhance their quality of life via a link worker who connects them from the health system to social supports. Currently, the government is funding seven social prescribing projects aimed at supporting older adults in major population centres and surrounding rural communities. These projects aim to supplement existing community supports and focus the extended social services outreach in alignment with the social prescribing model.
Non-Medical Home and Community Supports provide social supports for the overall health and well-being for older adults and seniors in their homes. This includes assistance related to system navigation, housekeeping, yard maintenance, groceries and meal assistance, recreational activities, social connection and assisted transportation. These supports are usually provided in an independent living setting, though some are also appropriate for supportive living situations where requested.
This work will allow us an opportunity to explore how we can bring together the full continuum of health and housing care for seniors. We want to ensure those living in their chosen community, whether in their own homes or in seniors lodges, have the supports they need to continue to do so for as long as possible. Since March 2023, SCSS has partnered with Healthy Aging Alberta(HAA) to fund 20 community organizations (rural and urban) to provide home and community non-medical supports.
We also recognize that transportation is a social determinant of health impacting access of older adults and seniors to healthcare services, social services, employment, and social opportunities, with rural and remote communities particularly affected. Since March 2023, SCSS has partnered with HAA to provide funding to 19 rural/remote communities where transit does not exist to allow seniors and individuals with disabilities to access medical appointments, complete errands, engage in social activities and get where they need to go.
Development:
Resolution 10-24F calls on RMA to advocate to the Government of Alberta to provide new supports for seniors in affordable housing, to encourage ageing in place and prevent seniors from having to relocate into facilities with higher, and more expensive, levels of care. The Minister of Health acts as the oversight minister to the Continuing Care provincial health agency directed by Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services. Alberta Health Services delivers many of the health services seniors receive. Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services have declined to comment on Resolution 10-24F as they understand the Ministry of Seniors, Community, and Social Services will respond.
Seniors, Community and Social Services are responsible for affordable housing, Continuing Care, and other seniors care facilities. The minister’s response indicates that the ministry is responding to recommendations from the Continuing Care Transformation Review and transitioning to the four pillar healthcare model which will change the way Continuing Care is presently delivered in Alberta. The minister’s response indicated a community supports oriented approach as opposed to an institution based model that supported “social prescribing” or connecting seniors to existing community supports. While social prescribing seems like a positive approach to ageing in place, RMA is concerned that some rural municipalities and communities may not have appropriate supports programs and that available supports may vary significantly between communities.
As the minister’s response did not indicate plans to increase services within seniors’ lodges, RMA assigns this resolution a status of Intent Not Met and will continue to monitor and advocate on this resolution as the Continuing Care health pillar is implemented.
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