By Jill Sperling

Heavy healthcare focus at seniors election forum

May 2, 2017 | 4:52 PM

KAMLOOPS — Healthcare was the number one issue of discussion at a candidates forum at the Brock Activity Centre Tuesday afternoon. 

All four Kamloops-North Thompson candidates fielded questions from a small crowd of seniors and concerned citizens. 

Topics included medically assisted death, the new seniors health clinic at Northills Mall, and access to residential care. 

“I do know back in 2001 the wait time for residential care beds was about three years, it’s now 90 days,” said Liberal candidate Peter Milobar. “There’s been significant investment and expansion of the number of units available to people, and within our platform there’s a continued focus on trying to assist people to stay in their homes longer.” 

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“We still don’t have the residential beds that we need, not even close,” NDP candidate Barb Nederpel responded. “Our plan is to be doing a lot more upstream stuff, you know seniors actually don’t want to be in residential care, that’s not where they are choosing to go. So, by going upstream I’m talking about addressing poverty issues, housing issues, mental health issues.” 

While some questions diverted from the healthcare topic, most attendees were looking for more information on medical services for seniors.