Aging at home is a necessity

Aging at home is not frivolous or a luxury.

It's a necessity, representatives of the North East Local Health Integration Network were told this afternoon in Sault Ste. Marie.

Area seniors were invited to share their opinions with regional health care administratives at tea and chat sessions at the Seniors Drop-In Centre

"Many seniors depend on a community support network centred around their homes," said Peter A Deane, a health services planning and facilitation consultant. "In times of need, they depend on family, friends, formal programs and the Bills of the world."

Deane (shown) related the story of a helpful neighbour who spent 15 minutes to fix a broken drawer for an elderly friend.

"He said he spent another two-and-a-half hours there talking with her and another hour on the phone with her when she phoned to thank him," said Deane. "And he said all this with a big smile on his face."

Visitors to the seniors centre today related similar stories illustrating how formal home-care programs and support services just don't allow time for companionship or caring connections.

Two women with experience in the health care industry also said they often saw people who had the support of family and friends recover faster from catastrophic illnesses or injury than those without that support.

Others said that seniors with the support needed to stay at home are less likely to end up occupying alternative-level-of-care beds in the hospital.

Organizers of today's tea and chat also asked seniors what services would make it easier for seniors to stay at home.

"From the responses here and my research on the web, I would say there are a lot more services out there than seniors and their families know about," said Deane. "They come from a whole range of sources, though, and maybe we need a one-stop shopping place where they can find out what there is out there for them." Today's chat was held as part of an extensive engagement strategy with seniors across the region.