Blog #28
Long-Term Care Commitment
On November 2nd the Ford government
announced that it would make a substantial commitment to the long-term care
residents of Ontario. That was welcome news for the many who have been trying
to provide care on a shoestring budget.
In my younger days, back in the 1990’s I had a
mobile practice that went to extended care homes and also worked with the CNIB. The lack of funding was evident even then and
if it wasn’t for the dedication of staff and families, there would have been
more problems at that time. Fast forward
to 2020, regretfully, my own Optometric Association decided to take job action
to petition the Ontario government to make changes in eye-care funding and in the
way eye care is delivered, and all this during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our office at Burlington Eyecare did not
support this action and still does not -- not because changes are not needed,
but because of the pandemic timing and the fiscal crunch that covid has put on the
government.
Earlier this year, when the military went into
the long-term care homes to help, their findings were not surprising. As a response to this knowledge, the
government of Ontario
is going to make a much needed commitment to help. The Ford administration has
had to make tough decisions on funding and I heartily approve of allotting
resources to this sector even if it means that increases in funding for eye
exams have to wait. At Burlington
Eyecare, we try to provide support for the residents and their families in the Burlington
area, doing on-site eye exams and providing timely optometric care when
requested.
The reality is that long-term care is intensive
and requires much support from the government, health care providers, and family.
The work is demanding, unglamorous, and unending. Hats off to the care workers. Hopefully this
government commitment provides much needed help.
Til next week,
The Good Doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Eyecare
