There are many services and programs for seniors in the North Okanagan. They range from formal and bureaucratic to models that resemble small businesses, trying to offer their products to meet customer needs but only in specific areas not becoming personally involved with the client.
Then there are other community programs that are informal, more flexible and place emphasis on the individual as a whole and their needs. All are necessary and provide needed services and all are funded by us as taxpayers with many rules to confirm to for continued funding.
My problem is when the formal bureaucratic model becomes dangerous when it clings to rules and protocol that does not meet the needs of patients and endangers those patients. An example is the case of a Vernon woman who has a serious back problem, is in constant pain and is waiting for an MRI before her doctor can proceed with treatment. She has been told that she is on ASAP list but because it is not critical will have to wait. Wait times now are up to one year.
Every day this woman is in pain and can barely function and has six months left to wait before her test and then months again to see the specialist. What kind of care treatment is this? Over and over again we hear the same critical issues around wait times that just go on and are not addressed. Maybe we do need politicians to sit on the Interior Health Board. At least they are accountable to their constituents and may offer some hope of change. It is deplorable the way things are now.
A different model of service and one more accountable to its clients is Senior Services offered by Nexus BC and located across from the old library. While offering many services to seniors, it is the way these services are performed that makes a difference. Patience, caring, respect and good listening skills are the norm and seniors feel comfortable while trying to resolve issues. They are open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and if they cannot offer the service you need they can refer you to someone who can.
Senior Services offer assistance with applications such as GIS, OAS, CPP and SAFER etc. A Seniors Housing Guide is available that lists all sources of housing for seniors including independent and long-term housing. Help with simple income tax returns for low-income seniors (up to $30,000 single; $40,000 for couples) is free and taking place right now at Schubert Centre until April 24 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More than 300 people took advantage of this service last year. Senior Services also offer a friendly visitor program, a winter Snow Buddy program and provides a Community Services Directory that will help you find the service you need.
An issue as we age is the need to undergo a driver’s test and if you are an older driver and want to refresh your knowledge, especially if a reassessment of your driving skills is eminent, a Re-Assessment Workshop is coming up on May 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at People Place sponsored by Seniors Services and ICBC. This workshop will look at why you may be required to undergo a re-assessment and provide the tools that will help along with a refresher of the rules of the road and the road test itself. If you want to attend this free workshop pre-registration is required by May 3 as seating is limited. Call 250-545-0585 to register.
If you have any questions or comments e-mail: blackmail1@telus.net or call 250 542-7928.
Pat Black writes about issues concerning seniors in the North Okanagan. Her column appears every other Sunday.
