Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as we see the population of seniors and homelessness increase in Hay River and throughout the NWT, it is important we prepare our healthcare system to ensure trained personnel are in place to provide the health supports required.
Madam Speaker, we talk about keeping seniors in their homes and, as I stated previously, although an admirable expectation it is not realistic. This government expects to keep seniors in their homes, which may well work for those who have the financial resources, are healthy, mobile, and have family support. For those not in that position, there is a reliance on our understaffed health and home care services.
Unfortunately, home care does not provide 24/7 wraparound services thus placing that responsibility squarely on the shoulders of family. Madam Speaker, with increasing pressures on families just to keep up with the cost of living, it now requires two wage earners in the family to place food on the table while covering the necessities of life.
I have talked to seniors who do not want to place the additional responsibility of health and home care on their children who are already overburdened with the responsibilities that come with employment and raising a family.
Madam Speaker, we as government need to work towards identifying those gaps that currently exist within the system and fill them. We need to engage families, with their support identify solutions that will provide their loved ones with a quality of life each has earned. We must not forget that we are in a housing crisis and that there are persons who find themselves homeless and are falling through the cracks and, because of it, are not receiving proper care. To help them, we need to be out of our offices and on the street reaching out.
Madam Speaker, I recognize a pressing need in the community of Hay River for medical social workers, to take on the responsibility of supporting those who are vulnerable and require wraparound health, mental health, and a multiple of social care services. This work, as the Minister of health previously stated, is done off the corner of the desk of employees with other responsibilities and that is not acceptable. Our approach needs to change. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
