Seniors

Seniors Critic Rachel Blaney is concerned about seniors losing their Guaranteed Income Supplement (File photo)

Federal NPD call for emergency debate on GIS benefit

Emergency debate requested to ‘urgently find a solution to this problem’ — MP Rachel Blaney

 

Coroner Géhane Kamel speaks during a news conference in Trois-Rivières, Que., on Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

No ‘euthanasia’ in Quebec care homes during COVID-19, expert tells coroner’s inquest

Inquest examining people who died in residential settings during first months of COVID-19 pandemic.

 

A Quebec coroner reminded an inquest into deaths at a privately-owned Montreal long-term care home that both the regional health authority and the care home’s management were responsible for the care of vulnerable patients. Flowers are shown outside Maison Herron, a long term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval on April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

‘Beyond what’s humanly acceptable’: Testimony ends at Quebec long-term care inquest

Coroner examining the failings at Résidence Herron has concluded the factual portion of her inquiry

 

Fraser Health in mid-September declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House in South Surrey. (Google Streetview photo)

Extended quarantine ‘very grim’ for residents of B.C. retirement residence: daughter

Health authority procedures questioned after six-week COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House

Fraser Health in mid-September declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House in South Surrey. (Google Streetview photo)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 file photo, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Patron, leaves after attending a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of the Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey, in London. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch. But don’t call her an oldie. The 95-year-old queen has politely declined the honor of being named “Oldie of the Year” by a British magazine. The Oldie magazine on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021, published the queen’s response to its suggestion. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File)

Thanks but no: UK queen turns down “Oldie of the Year” title

Queen Elizabeth says she does not meet ‘the relevant criteria’

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 file photo, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Patron, leaves after attending a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of the Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey, in London. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch. But don’t call her an oldie. The 95-year-old queen has politely declined the honor of being named “Oldie of the Year” by a British magazine. The Oldie magazine on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021, published the queen’s response to its suggestion. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File)
Wearing smiley-face masks, party guests celebrate the 111th birthday of JaHyung Lee (seated) at his Surrey-area retirement home on Sept. 23. (Photo: facebook.com/amenidahomecare)

Canada’s oldest man celebrates 111th birthday in B.C. with words of advice for party-goers

‘Exercise daily, smile often, surround yourself with good people, practice your faith,’ says JaHyung Lee

Wearing smiley-face masks, party guests celebrate the 111th birthday of JaHyung Lee (seated) at his Surrey-area retirement home on Sept. 23. (Photo: facebook.com/amenidahomecare)
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie describes the findings of her survey of long-term care and assisted living residents under pandemic restrictions, B.C. legislature, Nov. 3, 2020. (B.C. government)

Seniors advocate to release review of COVID-19 outbreaks at B.C. care facilities

368 COVID-19 outbreaks at B.C. care facilities from January 2020 to September 2021 and 1,092 deaths

B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie describes the findings of her survey of long-term care and assisted living residents under pandemic restrictions, B.C. legislature, Nov. 3, 2020. (B.C. government)
Adventurous senior Walter Martens took his first flying lesson as a 101st birthday present, taking off from the Langley airport on Saturday, Sept. 25. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: B.C. Senior, 101, takes first flying lesson

It was a birthday present for ‘adventurous’ Walter Martens

Adventurous senior Walter Martens took his first flying lesson as a 101st birthday present, taking off from the Langley airport on Saturday, Sept. 25. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
This combination of two undated photos released by Guinness World Records on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, show sisters Umeno Sumiyama, left, and Koume Kodama at separate nursing homes in Shodoshima island, left, and Oita prefecture, Japan. The two Japanese twin sisters have been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living identical twins, aged 107 years and 300 days as of Sept. 1, 2021, the organization said Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Guinness World Records via AP)

Japanese sisters certified as world’s oldest twins at 107

Pair was born on Nov. 5, 1913, and were separated after elementary school

This combination of two undated photos released by Guinness World Records on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, show sisters Umeno Sumiyama, left, and Koume Kodama at separate nursing homes in Shodoshima island, left, and Oita prefecture, Japan. The two Japanese twin sisters have been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living identical twins, aged 107 years and 300 days as of Sept. 1, 2021, the organization said Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Guinness World Records via AP)
Another three residents at Sunset Lodge long-term care home in Esquimalt have died from COVID-19, Island Health announced Sept. 8, bringing the death toll from the Aug. 27 outbreak to four. (Google Maps)

3 more residents die from COVID-19 at Esquimalt long-term care home

15 staff, 21 residents have tested positive since outbreak Aug. 27 at Sunset Lodge

Another three residents at Sunset Lodge long-term care home in Esquimalt have died from COVID-19, Island Health announced Sept. 8, bringing the death toll from the Aug. 27 outbreak to four. (Google Maps)
Close to 75 protesters with signs marched between FIr Park Village and Echo Village long-term care homes in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 to advocate for better conditions and management at the facilities. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Supporters protest conditions at two Port Alberni care homes as grievances pile up

Staff shortages are compromising care, says Echo Village resident

Close to 75 protesters with signs marched between FIr Park Village and Echo Village long-term care homes in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 to advocate for better conditions and management at the facilities. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Hedy Sutulov, seen here on Aug. 12, 2021, turned 107 on Aug. 18, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

‘Feisty’ Chilliwack woman who continued to hike at age 95 celebrates 107th birthday

Hedy Sutulov hiked Mt. Cheam at age 90, lived on her own until 101, had driver’s licence until 104

Hedy Sutulov, seen here on Aug. 12, 2021, turned 107 on Aug. 18, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
The landing page for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is seen in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. An internal government document is shining a light on how low-income seniors were abruptly cut off from monthly federal payments based on which bureaucratic body handled their emergency benefits last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini

Lost seniors’ income supplement hinged partly on what agency handled their CERB

Unknown to most, supplement was coming from two streams, one of which can be excluded

The landing page for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is seen in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. An internal government document is shining a light on how low-income seniors were abruptly cut off from monthly federal payments based on which bureaucratic body handled their emergency benefits last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini
Chris Sherlock, a 65-year-old resident of British Columbia’s Cowichan Valley, is seen in an undated handout photo. Sherlock, who relied on the CERB last year, says he was never told his monthly income would drop by nearly $500 as a consequence. New Democrats say they’ve have been flooded with calls from seniors who suddenly find themselves cut off from monthly government payments due to emergency benefits they received last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Chris Sherlock, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Seniors cut off from federal income supplement after receiving emergency benefits

$2,000 a month in Canada Emergency Response Benefit has rendered some ineligible

Chris Sherlock, a 65-year-old resident of British Columbia’s Cowichan Valley, is seen in an undated handout photo. Sherlock, who relied on the CERB last year, says he was never told his monthly income would drop by nearly $500 as a consequence. New Democrats say they’ve have been flooded with calls from seniors who suddenly find themselves cut off from monthly government payments due to emergency benefits they received last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Chris Sherlock, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A health care worker leaves after finishing her shift for the day at the Eatonville Care Centre in Toronto on Friday, April 24, 2020. A report published this morning by parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux estimates ending wait lists, increasing staff pay and benefits, providing more hours of care each day and expanding home care could cost around $13.7 billion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Fixing long-term care in Canada could cost $13.7B, budget watchdog estimates

Pandemic infected more than 1/4 of Canada’s 205,000 long-term care residents, killing over 15,000

A health care worker leaves after finishing her shift for the day at the Eatonville Care Centre in Toronto on Friday, April 24, 2020. A report published this morning by parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux estimates ending wait lists, increasing staff pay and benefits, providing more hours of care each day and expanding home care could cost around $13.7 billion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Christine Connon and Dave Wright will be the first couple to wed at White Rock Seniors Village, in a ceremony July 31. (Contributed photo)

B.C. seniors find love amid pandemic – ‘and I didn’t even know her name’

Christine Connon and Dave Wright’s wedding will be the first at White Rock Seniors Village

Christine Connon and Dave Wright will be the first couple to wed at White Rock Seniors Village, in a ceremony July 31. (Contributed photo)
Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Thursday, June 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

One-time payments to seniors over 75 likely to also go to the dead

Government wouldn’t seek to recoup the deposits made to the deceased, documents say

Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Thursday, June 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Doris Gage (left) poses with her grandson Nash and her granddaughter Meghan Mitchell on April 1, 2021, when restrictions were lifted to allow in-suite visits. (Contributed photo)

COVID-19 restrictions lifting at B.C. seniors home ‘absolutely’ a big deal

Doris Gage, 95, is set to celebrate her great-grandson’s 1st birthday July 24

Doris Gage (left) poses with her grandson Nash and her granddaughter Meghan Mitchell on April 1, 2021, when restrictions were lifted to allow in-suite visits. (Contributed photo)
North Island MLA Michele Babchuk visited the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Centre on Tuesday, July 13 for an informal chat. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

North Island MLA meets with Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Society

Rosaline Glynn, president of the society, said the visit went fantastic

North Island MLA Michele Babchuk visited the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Centre on Tuesday, July 13 for an informal chat. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Staying at home is preferred by most seniors to moving to assisted living or other care facilities, but B.C. has a shortage of home care staff and some seniors move into care before it is medically necessary. (Office of the Seniors Advocate)

B.C., care homes partner to train more senior home support staff

Entry-level candidates to receive paid work placements

Staying at home is preferred by most seniors to moving to assisted living or other care facilities, but B.C. has a shortage of home care staff and some seniors move into care before it is medically necessary. (Office of the Seniors Advocate)