Dear Editor,
Your last two issues have identified the absence of public transportation in our rural community.
I felt empathy for Scotty Smith as I read about his feeling of abandonment the evening of Dec. 2 in St. Albert with no apparent means of getting back to Barrhead where his car was parked at the Healthcare Centre. People are discharged from acute care when that level of care is no longer required. Fortunately, a good Samaritan volunteer stepped in to help.
As Alberta Health Services continues to centralize specific expertise and equipment, people of all ages are asked to travel to Westlock, St. Albert, or Edmonton. Specialized medical appointments usually involve tax deductible expenses, but getting there is the client’s responsibility. Rural transportation, as it now stands, is an enigma, with patchwork solutions across the province, accompanied by much wringing of hands.
Ambulances, in the absence of other accessible transportation, are used for inter facility transportation. Sometimes this involves a wait time. When a real emergency occurs, the ambulance must respond. The viability (need for business) of the ambulance versus the availability is a complex issue.
The use of volunteer drivers is mentioned. Volunteers have been driving family, friends and neighbours for years and will continue to do so. This is not, however, a formal solution to public transportation. Our volunteers are ageing along with us. There is no screening of medically at risk drivers who have medical conditions that could affect performance. There are increasing numbers of “very old” individuals who are the informal caregivers of the “young old,” i.e. an 87-year-old mother driving her 66-year-old daughter to appointments out of town. Some drivers will continue to drive, doing the best they can to meet their needs within town but will say, “I don’t drive in the city” or “I don’t drive at night.” Volunteers don’t have accessible transportation.
In November, it was reported in the Barrhead Leader that the County had identified the lack of public transportation as an issue during the 2013 Alberta 55-plus Summer Games. In response to Mr. Smith’s dilemma, Mayor Schulz has expressed his concern.
Last week, Ralph Helder, in his letter to the editor, advocated for sustainable public transport for seniors and other vulnerable members of our population. Jean Gunns expressed her frustration about getting her husband, a resident of continuing care, to appointments within town, or even to visit his yard at home. As a retired healthcare provider and an informal caregiver I say Amen! and Amen! I have had this discussion with so many people over my years in Barrhead. Barrhead and Westlock have among the highest number of continuing care, supportive housing and seniors housing spaces in rural Alberta.
Consider this. If you are in the business of building seniors 55+ housing you obtain your income from a senior. If you are employed as a care provider, you will owe much of your income to a senior or a vulnerable population. By our nature, we are an older community and we continue to build infrastructure to keep our citizens here. Supportive housing points to the need for support in transportation as well. I believe we want to be an age-friendly community that cares for our people. Seniors pay taxes, they pay for their utilities, they support our schools, they shop in our stores, they read this paper, they are members of our organizations, they use our services, they are our neighbours, our family our friends. I appreciate the concern of the town and county and look forward to working with them as we explore the possibilities for transportation in our community.
I wish for you peace and goodwill during this Holy Season.
Susan Oleskiw
