NDP Questions Why Elderly Couples In Need Of Care Continue To Be Threatened With Separation
Cowichan Ladysmith MLA Doug Routley is celebrating a victory for an frail couple who received a last minute offer from VIHA of an available space in the same unit of a local long term care facility.
Doug Routley
The family of 91 year old Andy and Hilda Struthers were so frustrated with their efforts to keep their elderly parents together that they travelled to the legislature in Victoria today to tell their story. Meanwhile TV crews were on their way to interview their parents in Duncan. Minutes before the Opposition was to raise the issue in Question Period the family received a cell phone call from the Health Authority that a room for the couple had been found if they agreed to accept it immediately.
“While this is truly a great outcome for this family, I’m left wondering about all the other families in the same situation,” said Routley.
The Struthers have been married for 67 years and are extremely dependant on each other emotionally. The couple’s family had been paying for a small single room in a private facility while they waited for a couples unit to become available through VIHA. A single bed became available for Hilda in the Cowichan Lodge but the family was told there was no space for Andy.
“The family were told there were no exceptions, Hilda must take the bed or move to the bottom of a long waitlist,” said Routley. “While this policy is frustrating for single seniors, it is prohibitive for couples.”
Fran Kiessling, the daughter of Hilda and Andy, credits her local MLA with helping to resolve a very stressful situation.
“We believe our struggle to help our parents would be ongoing if it weren’t for our MLA, Doug Routely. What a relief to our parents,” said Fran.
“The current system isn’t working for B.C.’s seniors,” said Routley. “For constituents to only get real action from this government under threat of media scrutiny is simply bizarre. Seniors deserve better.”
