Labour and healthcare advocates marked International Day of Older Persons by calling for the provincial government to mandate 4.5 hours of direct care for long-term care residents.

Friends of Medicare and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees co-hosted a panel discussion today at AUPE headquarters in Edmonton. More than 100 people attended, including care workers, seniors and advocates.

AUPE vice-president Sandra Azocar says seniors’ care has deteriorated since the province eliminated minimum nursing care hours from legislation and policy.

“This forum is about giving a voice to the people who are impacted by the government’s neglect of serious issues in seniors care,” Azocar says. “Seniors’ care has been in crisis for decades and it’s only gotten worse since the government’s changes.”

Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, says home care and continuing care need immediate support.

“I’ve been meeting with care workers across the province and what I’m hearing is both heartbreaking and incredibly troubling,” Gallaway says. “There are actions that the government can take today like reversing their removal of minimum hours of care.”

He says mandating 4.5 hours of care per day and investing in adequate staffing levels means families know loved ones are being cared for and seniors receive the respect and dignity they deserve.

The Strike a Change for Alberta Seniors campaign has collected more than 1,000 signatures calling for minimum hours of care.

Access more information and the petition here.