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DON’T BETRAY CANADA’S SENIORS WHO BUILT CANADA

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The Government of Alberta’s cost-cutting decision to uproot 7,000

ill,debilitated seniors from their nursing homes and place them in

Designated Assisted Living is suggestive of their ignorance

regarding stages of aging.
The patients of nursing homes are a category unto themselves

because there is a qualitative shift in their daily demands. Due

to their unpredictable health, they imperatively require “full care”

with unlimited hours (24/7), as needed (not approximately two

hours care they receive in DAL).
I know three families who lost their parents in a DAL because

of the discrepancy between their needs and the level of care

All three really old, frail seniors died; one had a heart attack, the

other diabetic coma and the third developed pneumonia that

went unnoticed because no one checked on them In the nursing

home, the aides have a collective mindset to be vigilant, willing

and extremely careful because they understand that the infirm
population of nursing homes can succumb to any illness, any

time. They watch over patients frequently, even at night for

heart attack, stroke, diabetic coma, pneumonia and other

health problem. That is unreserved “full care.” In DAL, nursing

home patients are subject to another violation. The DAL staff

is brainwashed to make them “independent.” However, they

lack judgment to discern that some patients have definitive limits

to the independence they can achieve.
Ten families have testified to me that overenthusiastic aid

workers pushed the seniors aggressively, to perform tasks

they were unable to. The harassed seniors sank into

depression and deteriorated in their health.

All the above flourished when moved to nursing homes, and

displayed more independence because their health improved

with “full care.”
The above incidents may be infrequent, but even one such

case is one too many if your parent is the victim.

It is up to us to force the government to abandon their plans

that would have tragic consequences for our parents on

whose sweat and blood our nation stands today.

Please email Health Minister Ron Liepert atmailto:health.minister@gov.ab.ca> health.minister@gov.ab.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone 780-427-3665.

DR. RAMMA SAWHNEY, LETHBRIDGE April 3, 2009