ALC's - 19% of Hospital population -a bureaucratic nightmare

This is disgraceful.


In many ways we have a wonderful health system. We have skilled doctors and caring nurses who go the extra mile for patients.

Sadly, to access that care, patients often have to negotiate a bureaucratic nightmare of red tape.

The government has downloaded responsibility for health spending to these faceless LHINs.

At the very time when our parents and grandparents most need their loved ones around them, they are shipped off to an unfamiliar place to die among strangers.

People who have lived and worked all their lives in communities such as these should be allowed the dignity of being cared for close to the family, close to those who love them, in their final days.

This is a heartless bureaucracy gone crazy. You can't ship frail old people out of town just so you can balance the books.   christina.blizzard@sunmedia.ca

CARP - A New Vision of Aging for Canada

CARP - A New Vision of Aging for Canada: "Make Predators ExtinctMake Predators Extinct"

Dont be a victim -fight back QJ

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." - Larry Elder
Predator: n.
1. An organism that lives by preying on other organisms. 2. One that victimizes, plunders, or destroys, especially for one's own gain. In the wild, predators use jaws and talons. In the human world, predators use trust and influence

Elder Abuse

We have taken several steps to address this very serious issue.

For example, in March 2007, our Government established the National Seniors Council to provide us with advice on all matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors. The first priority given to the Council by our Government was to examine the serious issue of elder abuse in Canada. After a year of extensive consultations with seniors, community and social groups, as well as other concerned Canadians, the Council released its report on elder abuse. It clearly outlined the magnitude of the problem of elder abuse in its many forms, including physical, financial, psychological, sexual and neglect.

Our Government fully understands that this is a complex problem that cannot be solved by one level of government or one organization. We recognize that combating elder abuse requires all of us to do our part to stop such unspeakable mistreatment. That is why, at the federal level, we are increasing our efforts.

We have introduced the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative, under which we invested $13 million over three years to help seniors and others recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse, and also to provide information on what support is available. A key element of that commitment includes a national public awareness campaign, which we will be launching very soon.


The ministers promise to CARP - lets see if she can deliver OJ

How to turn the tables on taxpayer ripoffs in self defense

Canadian Healthcare -a free service or ride for whom?

How do we turn the tables on America's ultimate rip-off (the HEALTHCARE SYSTEM) and get real results-better medical care and put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket each year by reducing unnecessary public health spending.

There's no question that the healthcare industry is Canada's biggest rip-off. As a professional caregiver with a dozen years inside this industry, I've seen things that would make your head spin.

The healthcare system is primarily set up to benefit the drug companies- the insurance companies- and the countless middlemen who have weaseled their way into the system. It is a big business where the customer is manipulated for special agendas that have little to do with providing good , timely, cost effective care to those that need the health service

A report by the independent consultancy firm, Milliman & Robertson, Inc., reports that as many as 60% of all surgeries performed in the U.S. are unnecessary. Did you know, for example, that in one recent year, according to the nonprofit group Public Citizen, the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the Fortune 500 had higher profits than the other 490 companies (from all the other industries) combined!

· Kickbacks and referral fees are common .The practice for illegally marketing drugs, for ailments they never even meant to treat is common.

o It is common to prescribe drugs and tests that were absolutely worthless

· I've seen older folks literally die because of incompetent medical treatment

· I've seen insurance companies cheat policyholders

· I've seen the Ministry of Health cheat policyholders and taxpayers by denying service, denying care service in a timely manner, and promoting higher cost products and services at the expense of lower cost better care alternatives

· I’ve seen regulated or “over regulated “care in its worse case nightmare scenario

o Over inflated health cost paid or 'over paid' by the taxpayer

§ 28$ /km legislated transportation costs

§ 1500 $/day shared room rates

§ Obscene drug charges- 1700$ plus for drops of medicine administered in less then 5 minutes

The list goes on and on. That's incredible, isn't it? This is not a pretty reality picture nor the public spin and information regularly promoted by the people who have a hand in your care pocket and are feeding from the public trough. It is time to realize that if you are an American or Canadian over the age of 40, you are almost certainly being ripped off by the healthcare system.

I'm here to tell you today that you don't have to take it anymore. Get involved and take your care system back and reduce the waste of this critical industry.

What are today‘s common taxpayer rip-offs and beefs?

Rip-off one -Healthcare

Last year Canadians spent $172 billion a year on health care, up from $79 billion in 1997. What accounts for these increases in spending and how can Canadians receive better value for their Healthcare dollars? Did you know that the average annual health cost for a average family of three is estimated to be $18, 000. Or that the average cost of common drugs is:

§ Cancer – 80K? Sight - 15 K? Other -?

A system that instead of just foolishly risking people’s money also risks peoples lives

Rip-off two- Cost of ownership increasing

Real estate prices are dropping but real estate taxes are sky rocketing and costs of ownership are increasing –with new ridiculous regulated fees, higher energy costs, higher finance charges.

Rip-off three- Government administration cost waste You overpay your taxes to the most wasteful multi-tiered government in the world. Thousands of dollars could be saved with a wiser use of resources Rip-off four- Government self-entitlement programs The financial markets are down by 50% over last year. Yet government entitlement programs, bonuses pay millions to administrators, and government employees at the expense of the existing competitive market reality. A market corruption factor that must be addressed. Do something about it – be heard If you are sick of the waste, the endless self serving talk, if you believe that institutions (such as government , finance, health just to name a few) should be accountable to you - the customers on main street, you must do something about it. If you are tired of getting ripped off by the institutions that are supposedly there to serve you but don’t or are tired of watching the government flush away the value of your savings and assets ……. and if you are tired of everyone trying to get their hands on your money, by proclaiming to do so “in your best interests” you should do something about it If you are tired of the hypocrisy, greed and want to re-build the respect and a return to fairness in our institutions -you should promote and stand for basic operating principles and common sense Join the Taxpayers Coalitions – we care as you do in the wise use of our resources – contact respondfeedbacknow@yahoo.ca

Stop talking -help caregivers

CARP to Governments: Caregivers Already Overburdened

CARP has been pressing governments to recognize the tough challenges faced by informal caregivers. We were asked to comment on a Ministry of Health and Long Term Care research and consultation paper outlining the strategic avenues governments might explore to ensure that caregivers in 2033 are better supported than they are today. CARP welcomes the initiative; Caring About Caregivers: Policy Implications of Long Range Scenario Planning is an exhaustive paper that proposes innovative solutions and makes a compelling case for supporting informal caregivers. So why put off until tomorrow, much less to 2033, what we SHOULD already be doing today? advocacy@carp.ca

"You have to agree with this message and if you do sign the Carp petition . " Here are some facts

By 2031 the number of older adults requiring formal or informal assistance will have increased by 200%, currently;

Today only 7% of older adults are in institutionalized settings.
However, it is imperative that this not divert our focus away from the need to help caregivers today, in 2009.

• There are currently 5 million Canadians who provide care to family members or friends, many of them face heavy levels of burden and cannot cope. Family caregivers today are already absorbing an ever-increasing part of health care costs and contributing hundreds of millions of hours of unpaid labour.
• In 1999, an economic assessment of family caregivers valued their work at $5 billion dollars per year but today, their labour could be worth as much as $12.3 billion per year!

These caregivers are reporting high levels of financial, emotional and health-related stress including lost wages and medical expenses.

• A quarter (26%) of Canadians reported they had cared for a family member or close friend with a serious health problem in last 12 months.
• Of these caregivers, 22% took upwards of one month off work and 41% used personal savings.
• As a result of their work almost 8 in 10 caregivers report suffering emotional difficulties, 7 out of 10 reported they needed respite, 54% reported financial difficulties and 50% reported weaker physical health.

We should be asking what the government is doing with our health money . Private caregivers are subsidising the public care system . Where is the value for money or the fairness in this? This is a clear case of elder abuse and caregiver abuse by the Ministry . Stop this outrage and waste of your money -sign the petition QJ

Legal issues to fight finanial exploitation of the vunerable

Legal Issues in Financial Exploitation
Some but not all abusive actions are defined as crimes. The Criminal Code of Canada describes the different offences that someone can be charged with if they are accused of abusive actions towards older adults. Offences cover physical and sexual abuse, chronic psychological abuse, neglect, loss of rights (under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms), theft, breach of trust and breach of power of attorney, extortion, false pretenses, fraud and intimidation.

What protection does the law provide?
In addition to the Criminal Code of Canada, there may be provincial statutes that protect you. The courts can impose penalties on people who break the law.
Because not all behaviour considered abusive falls under the Criminal Code, a range of resources and supports are necessary to be able to respond to cases of abuse. And while the definitions presented here are commonly accepted, definitions contained within legislation may vary. This may be important in determining what legal responses are available, and it emphasizes the need for a range of resources and supports.

Suing in Civil Court is also an option in some cases. You can sue the person who has abused you in the civil courts for compensation. If you have had property or money stolen, it might be appropriate to sue the abuser for damages for the amount of the loss or for restitution of the money or property (paying back what they took).
In some cases, mediation between the senior and the offender may be an alternative to a court process. Whether this might be appropriate depends on the circumstances. A lawyer can advise you. It is important to get reliable legal information and advice before starting a legal process. In addition, it is crucial to have efficient legal representation should you decide to follow any of the legal options mentioned above. It is important to consult a lawyer who is experienced in your specific area of concern. There are lawyers who have experience in criminal and civil matters, and some who focus on issues of Elder Law, such as wills, estates and powers of attorney.

What can I do if I am being financially abused?
If you are being financially abused, there are several things you need to know:

• You are not to blame.
• You do not deserve to be abused.
• You have a right to live without fear.
• You have a right to your own money and property.
• You have the right to a safe, healthy relationship and to have your own life.
• You cannot control the abuser's behaviour.
• Abuse often gets worse over time.

If you are not ready, or do not want to do anything right now, that is your choice—it is okay. There are specific actions you can take to stop financial abuse and prevent it from happening again.

You can talk to someone you trust – a friend, relative, clergy or health practitioner, or anyone else you trust. You can also call the police, a senior’s resource centre, crisis line, or legal information agency. Call the Seniors’ Secretariat for information on programs and services in your area.

You can revoke a power of attorney if it is being misused. This is a simple process, requiring a letter drafted by yourself or your lawyer. You will need to send a copy of the letter to your attorney, bank, credit card company and other places where you do business.
You can close any joint bank accounts that you have with the person who is financially abusing you.

You may be able to get a peace bond or restraining order to prevent the abuser from contacting you if you are in fear of the abuser. You have to go to court to get a peace bond.
You can report the abuse to the police, who will investigate to determine if the abuse is a crime, and will make recommendations about how to proceed. You may contact the police about whether the abuse amounts to a criminal offence.

A complete investigation can take considerable time, and there is no guarantee that you will recover any of your lost funds. Nevertheless, it is still important to report economic crime.

What can I do if someone I know is being financially abused?
In all cases of financial abuse, the first consideration should be for the well-being and rights of the senior. If an older person’s safety is in jeopardy, call the police. In other cases, it is important to consider the following:

The older person has the right to self-determination. If they are not ready, or do not want to do anything right now, that is their choice—it is okay. But you can provide information about what they need to know or what they can do if they decide to take action at a later date. Also, by being a good listener and respecting the older person’s wishes, you may ease the concerns of the older person.

In cases where financial abuse occurs at the same time as other forms of abuse and the person is determined to be an “adult in need of protection”, If you have information, whether it is confidential or not, indicating that an adult is in need of protection, you have a duty to report it.

How do I report financial exploitation?
The first step is to call the police. They will carry out an investigation and determine whether the activity is a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada. If it is, the offender can be charged in criminal court and if found guilty of a crime, they will be subject to penalty. Penalties may include a fine, probation, restitution (paying back what they took), a discharge or imprisonment.

If an investigation determines the financial exploitation does not fall under the Criminal Code, you may still be able to sue for damages in civil court. You should consult a lawyer for advice. Not all abuse is a crime. Sometimes, cases can be resolved without going to court. A police investigation can act as a deterrent to the abuser and in some cases may be enough to stop the abusive behaviour. In other cases, a letter from the victim’s lawyer can also act as a deterrent.

Why is it important to get legal advice?
Getting legal advice is a worthwhile investment. Many people are reluctant to contact lawyers for help because they think it will cost too much, or they simply don’t know how to find one. Sound legal advice, particularly from a lawyer who deals with the growing field of Elder Law, can have many benefits. This may include reduced stress, a less complicated and speedier resolution to problems, and having someone who understands and has experience in similar cases. In addition, getting legal advice may help you avoid costly mistakes that can occur when trying to deal with things on your own.