Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about elders’ care and I have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, my first question: what care facilities and services are currently available to Ulukhaktok elders? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the health and social services staff in the community health centre provide elders in Ulukhaktok with support and nursing services in accordance to their needs. There is one home support worker in the community, as well as a community health nurse dedicated to providing some home-care services. The authority has a temporary, community social services worker who will be transitioning into the community next week, which I think is fantastic news. The health staff are supported by teams of professionals in the Beaufort Delta as well. The seniors can get services from the health centre if they need acute care services or emergency-type services. Within the community, as far as units or housing facilities, there is a four-plex within the community that is available for seniors through the NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my second question: what activities does the department take in 2016-17 to support Ulukhaktok elders?
Mr. Speaker, within the community specifically, there are a number of things that are happening. The Department of Health and Social Services is funding the Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority to provide things like the elders’ afternoon tea program for elders so that they have the opportunity to get out of their homes and access resources and avoid social isolation, which many seniors across the North can face. The authority is offering a variety of services in the community of Ulukhaktok to support elders, including assisting elders to complete forms and applications, some advocacy, facilitating referrals to other resources as required for the individual elders. There is some counselling available. Services for elders which we hope to enhance when we get that actual incumbent in the community, which is something we have struggled with in the past. We do have some different Elders’ Day events, like I have already mentioned. There are also activities planned in June to celebrate Elders’ Month. The authority will also be pursuing a joint presentation with the RCMP, the YCFC to co-facilitate a community presentation on elder abuse. There are a number of things that are happening specifically targeting the communities to provide support to the elders who do live there.
I thank the Minister for the response to that question. Mr. Speaker, as indicated earlier, there is a growing need for an elders' home in Ulukhaktok. Does the Department of Health and Social Services plan to build another facility for elders?
Mr. Speaker, as I already indicated there is a four-plex in the community for independent living for seniors in the community already which is supplied by the NWT Housing Corporation. When the Member made his statement, I had an opportunity to check with the Minister of Housing to see if there are any plans to put an independent living unit in the community or any additional independent living units. The Housing Corp is doing a needs survey across the Northwest Territories to determine where some of that need exists, at which point, I am certain they will get feedback from Ulukhaktok to help determine their needs. I would strongly encourage the Member and the community to provide the Housing Corp. with that input. With respect to long-term care facilities, we do have the long-term care report in front of us that demonstrates a shortage of 258 beds across the Northwest Territories. A number of those beds have been identified in the Beaufort Delta, and we are looking at working with the region and the communities to help us figure out how to move forward to put in those long-term care beds. Those long-term care beds right now are targeted for Inuvik as a regional centre. We try to keep people in the communities and in their homes as long as possible. Then they may have to transition to independent living. Then they have to transition to long-term care. That long-term care plan is going to be for the region, but likely located in Inuvik.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
