K T R T A

Isobel Mackenzie, Seniors Advocate for British Columbia spoke about issues relevant to seniors at this time due to COVID-19. She noted that 94% of BC’s seniors, over the age of 65, live independently. This number drops to 74%, however, when you look at adults over age 85.  She also noted a dramatic increase in the use of our health care system after age 85. One point that Ms. Mackenzie made was that although we have a lot of services available to our seniors in BC, there is no one to coordinate the services. Our seniors are basically given a list of phone numbers of the services and expected to sort it out on their own. She is hoping to make an improvement to this.

She expressed her concern about the number of seniors living in isolation. Libraries, seniors’ centres and recreation centres are operating with reduced services, which could continue for possibly another year, so an environment of less social engagement will continue to be a challenge for us all. Now that children have returned to school, social bubbles have expanded and many families are not seeing their grandparents. Most BC residents recognize the need to have restrictions on contact outside our “partners in care” but everyone is rightly concerned about mental well being and the effects of loneliness. I’m asking our members to be aware. Be kind, be safe and reach out to a friend that may be living alone. – Marney Bethell

Here is Isobel MacKenzie’s presentation.

Dr. Steve Morgan (PhD) is a professor in the UBC School of Population and Public Health. He is a health economist. His work to promote expanded public healthcare plans is well known across Canada. His presentation to the BCRTA conference focused on attaining a Canadian “universal comprehensive public Pharmacare program”. This program was proposed in the Sept. 29, 2020 Federal Throne speech to be in place by 2021. Dr. Moran recommended that members of the BCRTA write letters to our Members of Parliament supporting this public Canadian Pharmacare program. The KTRTA did petitions for such a program in 2018/19. However as this is now close to becoming a reality additional letters would be a benefit. The BCRTA Advocacy Committee was asked to create a template letter for us to use. Dr. Moran provided financial statistics to clearly show to the government that costs for this plan would be covered by reducing the number of hospital visits by people who cannot afford their prescriptions and get into health difficulties. The government would also save money by bulk ordering. Dr. Moran’s slides from his presentation will be available on the BCRTA website (bcrta.ca). Note: BC has the Provincial Fair Pharmacare Plan. It has a deductible for anyone who has an income over $30,000.00. This is a sliding deductible. As we are now in a provincial election this is a good time to ask that this deductible be removed. I have asked the BCRTA for a letter template so that members can lobby MLA candidates in their constituency to support this. – Sheila Park

Here is Dr. Steve Morgan’s presentation.

Dr. Roger Wong is Vice-Dean, Faculty of Medicine, UBC, with specialization in geriatric medicine. He is known for his column on health in BCRTA’s PostScript magazine. Dr. Roger Wong speaks about protecting and supporting older adults during COVID-19 by educating seniors on self-care and new ways to connect with family, friends, and information through technology. Socializing virtually, rather than visiting in-person, can keep us safe. He prescribes limiting our in-person social circle to required people only and he cautions about the potential dangers of the intersection of multiple social bubbles, especially with grandchildren back in school. Limiting in-person visits with family and friends is not quite as good as being there, but all in all, virtual visits are pretty good. Dr. Wong recommends that we continue to advocate for older adults who may be vulnerable and he suggests that we step forward to share how to use digital technologies, such as Zoom, FaceTime and email to connect virtually with grandchildren, family and friends. He wants us to stay socially engaged and prevent the social isolation and loneliness that can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health.
So let’s reach out, step up and help each other to connect socially! Noeleen Bunney

Here is Dr. Roger Wong’s presentation.

Post Script Magazine Excellence Awards: This presentation at the conference is really worth listening to! Especially so if you love to read the articles and enjoy seeing the amazing photography in each issue of PostScript. These awards go to the best writing and best photography submitted by our members. Here are the PostScript Awards presentations for 2020!