B.C.’s seniors advocate addresses Clearwater residents at Tuesday forum

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“They don’t want to leave and so we need to make sure those services are in the communities where seniors are so they can stay there and age where they live.”

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Lynne Frizzle, the Seniors Network Coordinator for the the Wells Gray Country Seniors Society, said it was important to give residents the opportunity to hear directly from Levitt.

“I feel that it was very important for seniors in Clearwater to know that [Levitt] understood their concerns and needs,” Frizzle said. “He spoke to several people throughout the day and asked questions that generated great conversations with him. He then incorporated those conversations into his talk later in the day, so they knew he was really listening to them.”

While Levitt’s presentation mixed in a number of humorous anecdotes, it also focused on serious topics affecting seniors like affordability, ageism, better access to health care and the need for more long-term care options.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re putting our money where they population needs are – and the biggest need right now is in seniors,” Levitt said.

He noted that is especially true in Clearwater as it takes a long time to head to the closest major city, which in Clearwater’s case, is an hour-and-a-half away by road.

“We have to make sure the beds are here, the infrastructure, assisted living, affordable housing for seniors – there’s a huge waitlist there also. And also that home care is affordable so you can age in place,” Levitt added.

“That includes things like eliminating the co-payment to make it more reasonable for seniors who are already on fixed incomes and already have more pressures than younger people. Eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures and mobility aids – the cost of living gets more expensive when you’re on a fixed income.”

Other speakers on Tuesday included Marian Anderberg from the BC Community Response Networks, who touched on elder abuse and how to report instances of elder abuse. Shirley Frost from the Clearwater Hospice Society spoke to the differences between hospice and palliative care, while Interior Health’s Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe spoke about the importance of communities promoting the needs of people of all ages, needs and abilities.

“The Seniors Forum also hosted several organizations that displayed their supports and knowledge important to seniors and were given the opportunity to talk to each organization to discuss their own needs and experiences,” Frizzle added.

Feedback helps make recommendations

Levitt’s office acts as a watchdog for seniors services in British Columbia. It primarily focuses on five key areas – health care, housing, income supports, community supports and transportation, and it makes recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues.

“When seniors are negatively impacted by a policy decision, for example, like the more expensive property tax deferment program where interest rates are more expensive,” Levitt noted. “We also see things like long-term care projects being cancelled and PST being applied to things that seniors are doing to age in place at home.”

“We want to make sure the government is making the right decision to help seniors in British Columbia, as many are relying on those policy decisions to age gracefully.”

Levitt is scheduled to be at the Creekside Seniors Centre in 100 Mile House between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Monday (June 22) and at the Senior Citizens Activity Centre in Williams Lake between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. that day.

On Tuesday, he’ll be at the Ashcroft Hub between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

“I think it’s important that seniors come out to community events like this to raise their concerns and speak about what’s troubling them and what supports they need to age gracefully,” Levitt said.

“And then when those services are needed, we need to ensure they’re there so seniors don’t have to leave the places where they’ve formed relationships, where their grandkids are and where the services are.”