Disabled, seniors living in fear across region
Attend rally while awaiting change to services

Aurora Banner
March 15, 2014
By John Cudmore

Seniors and disabled citizens dependent on vital daily services are fearing for their lives as deadlines for changes in the delivery of services near.

In two weeks, they will find if their fears are founded when a new delivery system of services takes over under the lead of the provincial government.

There was plenty of protest and disgruntlement as about 200 residents and families representing seven Alternative Community Living Centres across York Region filled the CUPE Local 905 hall in Newmarket today to air their concerns with the shift in services delivery due to start April 1.

The facilities include Keswick Gardens Seniors Apartments, Hadley Grange in Aurora, Cedar Crest Manor in Markham, Heritage East in Newmarket, Armitage Gardens in Newmarket, Genesis Place in Richmond Hill and Kitchen-Breedon Manor in Schomberg.

Based on reports from the Central Local Health Integrated Network, the provincial government is de-funding the ACL program in which on-site care and service are immediately available in favour of a so-called hub-and-spoke model. That model includes a combination of scheduled and unscheduled staff visits by staff of CHATS and Care First.

CHATS, or Community and Home Assistance to Seniors, plans to operate offices in Keswick, Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Schomberg or Tottenham, and provide services within 15 minutes.

“It’s good to see the community come together,” said Doug Sheppard, unit chairperson for CUPE Local 905, which includes up to 90 front-line employees facing layoffs. “The level of services is going to be reduced. The LHINs and CHATS are saying there will be no change, but that’s just not true.”

A point of frustration for many is that the region is not stepping into bridge the difference in coverage. Before the announcement for change in January, the region covered 51 per cent of the total of $5.5-million annual services delivery costs.

LHINs covered the remaining 49 per cent. However, LHINs is no longer part of the equation after March 31.

“We’re talking a few million dollars and giving a longer period of notice at least to allow people to make arrangements,” Mr. Sheppard said. “It’s not too late because staff and infrastructure are still in place. The Region of York is not the bad guys but could they make a difference? Absolutely.”

Many in attendance question the plan to remove on-site responders in favour of CHATS and Care First Staff located at four or five strategic locations in the region.

Angered and confused by the provincial government’s decision to transfer delivery of health services to CHATS and Care First, impacted people offered their personal thoughts and stories toward invited guests including Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees and Newmarket regional councillor John Taylor.

Mr. Taylor suggested it is unreasonable for the region to be expected to “fill the gap” to compensate for cuts.

“Property taxes are not the way to fund cuts to these programs,” said Mr. Taylor when the question was raised why the region is not able to ingest the 49 per cent of the cost for LHINs

Mr. Klees urged residents to contact politicians at all levels to air concerns and vowed to take the fight to Queen`s Park on behalf of the people.

`We`re dealing with an issue that makes me ashamed what government can do to make lives miserable and put lives at risk. To cut these services is unconscionable and immoral. Looking after seniors is more important than anything else. If the money used to fix potholes on our roads has to be diverted, well, we`ll just have to drive more carefully.

I’m not going to stop until we can reinstate 24/7 personal health care to seniors in our region.”

"It’s a change in the delivery models across the province and we are no longer able to deliver these services in the way we have done in the past,” said Adelina Urbanski, commissioner of community and health services for York Region. “The intention is for more services but to allow more people to stay in their own homes. As society ages and residents are aging, the next 20 years we will require two times the services because people are living longer.”

Ms Urbanski concedes the transition is scary for a lot of people.

“Part of the issue is when you’re vulnerable and dependent and things are going to change I have no doubt it is going to create angst for the person and their family. It’s difficult.

When we were told we’re no longer able to deliver, we’re obligated to make delivery as smooth as possible.”