A Holt Government will Support New Brunswick Seniors and Their Families
October 2, 2024 • News
For immediate release
Neguac, Wednesday, October 2, 2024— Today, the Holt team announced their plan to support seniors in the province who have been forgotten under the Higgs government, with 1,108 on waiting lists for long-term care and 550 stuck in hospital beds waiting for a place in a nursing home.
“Seniors and their families deserve the ability to make informed decisions about their care and to live with dignity. The lack of long-term care support is a constant source of stress for them and for the care professionals delivering services,” said Liberal Leader Susan Holt. “We have listened to the people of the province, and we have a plan to ensure seniors receive the care they deserve and that their families and caregivers are well supported.”
A Holt government will:
- Implement a caregiver benefit: For unpaid and informal caregivers of aging family members – will provide caregivers $250 a month to recognize their contribution.
- Expand Nursing Homes Without Walls: To ensure that those who want to stay at home can do so for as long as possible.
- Improve homecare: Update the process and standards for home care allocation and invest in wages for personal support workers and resident attendants ultimately resulting in increased hours of care.
- Improve wages & fill staffing gap: Ensure all existing nursing home beds are used by filling staffing gaps and investing in wages for personal support workers and resident attendants, resulting in increased hours of care.
- Increase funding support: Raising the amount of the comfort and clothing allowance for seniors from $150 to $200.
- High quality standards: Establish sector standards and transparent reporting practices with a robust system for complaints that leads to quick response and better overall delivery to ensure seniors continue to receive excellent care.
- Support those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia: Work with communities to develop and implement a strategy that better supports those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Provide free RSV vaccines: To ensure that all seniors 75+ living in New Brunswick are able to stay healthy during regular cold and flu seasons
“By caring for those who care for us, providing support to seniors’ families and caregivers, and strengthening the oversight of the long-term care system, our team will ensure that seniors receive the support they need in a way that promotes well-being and independence,” said Holt.
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Media Contact :
Pascale Paulin
Press Secretary
media@nbliberal.ca
(506) 866-3420