Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic

Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic

  • Downloads:4658
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-03-18 08:16:15
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Andre Picard
  • ISBN:0735282242
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

It took the coronavirus pandemic to open our eyes to the deplorable state of so many of the nation's long-term care homes: the inhumane conditions, overworked and underpaid staff, and lack of oversight。 In this timely new book, esteemed health reporter Andr� Picard reveals the full extent of the crisis in eldercare, and offers an urgently needed prescription to fix a broken system。

When COVID-19 spread through seniors' residences across Canada, the impact was horrific。 Along with widespread illness and a devastating death toll, the situation exposed a decades-old crisis: the shocking systemic neglect towards our elders。

Called in to provide emergency care in some of the hardest-hit facilities in Ontario and Quebec, the military issued damning reports of what they encountered。 And yet, the failings that were exposed--unappetizing meals, infrequent baths, overmedication, physical abuse and inadequate personal care--have persisted for years in these institutions。

In Neglected No More, Andr� Picard takes a hard look at how we came to embrace mass institutionalization, and lays out what can and must be done to improve the state of care for our elders, a highly vulnerable population with complex needs and little ability to advocate for themselves。

Picard shows that the entire eldercare system--fragmented, underfunded and unsupported--is long overdue for a fundamental rethink。 We need to find ways to ensure seniors can age gracefully in the community for longer, with supportive home care and respite for family caregivers, and ensure that long-term care homes are not warehouses of isolation and neglect。 Our elders deserve nothing less。

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Reviews

smalltownbookmom

A great analysis of the state of elder care in Canada (and around the world) both before and during COVID with some useful suggestions for ways governments can make improvements going forward。 Along with facts and figures, the book is also interspersed with personal anecdotes from caregivers and their experiences with different types of care facilities and options。 The inadequate government support (as highlighted during the COVID pandemic) means that it is often left to those with money to be a A great analysis of the state of elder care in Canada (and around the world) both before and during COVID with some useful suggestions for ways governments can make improvements going forward。 Along with facts and figures, the book is also interspersed with personal anecdotes from caregivers and their experiences with different types of care facilities and options。 The inadequate government support (as highlighted during the COVID pandemic) means that it is often left to those with money to be able to best care for their elderly relatives。 The author argues that when we devalue elder care, we devalue our elders,” and “we need to create an environment where elders can thrive not just survive。” 。。。more

Tony Discenza

The author offers an in depth look at the past, present and future of care for our elderly in Canada and how an already challenged system is impacted by the Covid pandemic。 Problems and concerns already existing for decades are exposed in a harsh and deadly manner by a pernicious virus。 If we are among the fortunate we will be spared the complexity of navigating the bureaucracy of care for the elderly。 Many of us will confront this complicated labyrinth for our loved ones or ourselves and requir The author offers an in depth look at the past, present and future of care for our elderly in Canada and how an already challenged system is impacted by the Covid pandemic。 Problems and concerns already existing for decades are exposed in a harsh and deadly manner by a pernicious virus。 If we are among the fortunate we will be spared the complexity of navigating the bureaucracy of care for the elderly。 Many of us will confront this complicated labyrinth for our loved ones or ourselves and require assisted care in our future。 In either case we should all be aware of the system of elderly care in Canada and aspects of it that need to be addressed and conditions redressed。 Andre Picard takes us through the situation through his research, interviews with professionals and poignant stories of individuals and families and their experiences with caring for elderly loved ones in LTC and other models of care for our greatest generation。 At a moment in history when our most vulnerable continue to be so cruelly impacted, an understanding of how and why is needed and Picard puts forward solutions to problems that have been allowed to worsen for decades。 As the title suggests, it is time to act。 Please read and pass along the book to someone about whom you care。 。。。more

Geoffrey Kelley

André Picard has written a timely book on the tragic truths revealed by the COVID pandemic on the deep problems faced in providing elder care to our seniors in Canada。 Staff shortages, lousy working conditions, poor pay for work that is too often part-time, forcing immigrant women ( the vast majority) to take on two or three jobs—these are some of the challenges faced by the dedicated people working with our elders。 Coupled with aging and often poorly designed buildings, built years ago to accom André Picard has written a timely book on the tragic truths revealed by the COVID pandemic on the deep problems faced in providing elder care to our seniors in Canada。 Staff shortages, lousy working conditions, poor pay for work that is too often part-time, forcing immigrant women ( the vast majority) to take on two or three jobs—these are some of the challenges faced by the dedicated people working with our elders。 Coupled with aging and often poorly designed buildings, built years ago to accommodate many people under one roof, and chronic underfunding, and you have the house of cards that collapsed in many places during the pandemic。 Picard rightly points out that these issues have been studied to death, so we do not need a new series of public inquiries into the failures of our elder care。 We need a game plan now, as governments emerge from the pandemic and start planning for our post-COVID future。 My only caveat, as a retired politician, is the ease with which Picard indicates governments should simply invest more。 That is true, but citizens should also stop voting for political parties ( even on occasion the one I was part of) that promise to lower taxes。 With the demographic reality facing our country, this is completely irresponsible。 Picard on occasion hints that if we could reduce “bloated bureaucracy” monies could be saved and reinvested。 But what is needed is much more than could ever be found in the eternal battle against “ government waste”。 Improving salaries and working conditions for nurses and orderlies, reducing patient-staff ratios, revamping old buildings or building new ones, strengthening home care will cost billions of dollars。 It is impossible to find this money unless all of us are willing to pay more taxes。 An unpopular truth, but a truth none-the-less! 。。。more