Pubdate: Sun, 27 Oct 2002
Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Surrey Leader
Contact:  http://www.surreyleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236
Author: David Marsh

SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND ADDICTS ARE AT RISK

Thousands of vulnerable British Columbians are in danger of getting 
substandard care under a provincial proposal to de-license a wide range of 
community care facilities, critics say.

Local governments and community groups believe frail seniors, recovering 
drug addicts and others will suffer under the B.C. Liberals' draft 
Community Care Facility Act, known as Bill 16, because many assisted-living 
residences and drug and alcohol recovery homes will no longer need to be 
licensed under the proposed law.

The Liberals say the change will reduce "unnecessary regulation" of 
facilities serving people with "a greater level of independence." Only 
those needing help in following direct instructions from a doctor, such as 
drug prescriptions, would qualify for a licensed facility under the new 
rules. Currently, any facility providing care or supervision to three or 
more people must have a licence, which requires the facility to meet 
provincial standards.

Opponents say Bill 16 is a step backward, likely bringing back the days of 
vulnerable individuals being jammed into overcrowded facilities where they 
receive inadequate attention.

"People won't have any idea how important this is, until they're trying to 
find a place for their aging parent," said Val MacDonald, executive 
director of the New Westminster-based Seniors' Housing Information Program.

MacDonald said the move is particularly troubling because it comes at a 
time when the B.C. population is aging, and when the government is also 
planning to provide more care for seniors in "supportive living" 
arrangements rather than conventional nursing homes.

Because of the potential for local impacts, the Greater Vancouver Regional 
District's board of mayors and councillors has unanimously called on 
Victoria to put the brakes on the bid. The local governments say it will 
dump problems in their communities that they have no tools and resources to 
deal with.

Surrey Coun. Judy Villeneuve said unregulated facilities such as recovery 
homes have in the past generated numerous complaints in the community. 
Homes would be overcrowded, clients would not be fed properly, and they 
would at times be spotted wandering the streets due to a lack of 
supervision, she said.

"It means anyone can open up a support-service home ... (and) the city has 
no power to regulate these facilities," Villeneuve said. "It's a real 
backwards step as far as I'm concerned."

New Westminster Mayor Helen Sparkes said the province intends for its 
regional health authorities to oversee the care facilities. But those 
authorities are already overburdened, she said, because their funding has 
been frozen for three years.

After repeated requests for an interview, a spokesperson for Katherine 
Whittred "the Liberals' minister for community care" said she would have no 
comment until after the law is passed, expected some time this fall.
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