It’s likely that quite a few readers’ heads nodded knowingly as they read of the Sale family’s struggles with the long-term care system.
Ironically, the most unusual part of their story is that it came to a happy conclusion last Friday when Betty Sale received word that her husband, Louis, would be moved into long-term care at the Athabasca Healthcare Centre, instead of being moved to Lac La Biche or another community.
Other than that last-minute twist, the Sales’ story is not uncommon. There are many families in the community that have been split up so that an elder member can receive long-term care. Betty Sale was just less accepting of the situation than others, and chose to make her frustrations a public issue.
But her point rings true. There is a distinct shortage of long-term care beds in the community, which is bound to become more pronounced as the community ages.
And it’s not a situation that is unique to Athabasca, either. Smaller communities across the province face a similar predicament. And what that creates is a situation where, if Athabasca wants to improve its position, it will have to out-maneuver other communities vying for the same thing.
Fortunately for Athabasca, it has already faced a similar situation and performed exceptionally well.
A few years ago, when the shortage of doctors across rural Alberta became apparent, the local Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee was formed and has been remarkably successful at bringing new doctors to the community. While existing connections to the South African medical community were a definite asset, the key to the committee’s success was making the new doctors feel welcome. In doing so, Athabasca succeeded where other communities struggled.
Perhaps that model would be equally as successful if used towards the growing long-term care issue. Just as Betty Sale was determined to find a better outcome for her husband, if we, as a community, are determined to achieve a better outcome, maybe we can reach a happy conclusion, too.
It won’t be easy. Just like with physician recruitment, communities across Alberta will be clamoring for the same thing. But also just like with physician recruitment, if the community gets behind it, there’s no telling what might be achieved.
Starting with the council committee headed by councillor Lionel Cherniwchan, we look forward to seeing if Athabasca can once again show leadership against a disturbing health care trend.
