Social Reality...

There Are Countless Numbers Of Champions Out There Who Will Never Receive Recognition...

Barbara Kay: An enemy of victim politics, a champion of common sense

Barbara Kay  September 7, 2010 – 4:56 pm

 

This is a tribute column to one of the National Post’s most loyal fans, Lois Hashimoto, who died last January, aged 81. I saved my remarks about Lois to coincide with this Saturday’s fundraiser for one of her favourite causes, AGAPE, the only anglophone social service agency in Laval, Que., renamed in her honour as “The Lois Hashimoto Memorial Walk.”
From her eulogy, I learned that Lois, born Yuriko Nakashima in New Westminster, B.C., led a rich and traditional life as a fulfilled wife, mother and grandmother, who never sought a career outside the home. She enjoyed a wide circle of friendships, old and new (I was new), played bridge, followed baseball, had a passion for literature, was unbeatable at ping-pong, and could and did sew everything from grad dresses to bathing suits. Read More »

Posted in: Canada, Full Comment, Social Issues  Tags: Barbara Kay

Hiring A Caregiver Is Noble But Is It Caring...

Goar: Elderly caregivers desperately need help

September 08, 2010
Carol Goar

Two million Canadians live this slow-motion tragedy daily. Their families watch with a mixture of guilt, anguish and helplessness. The rest of society averts its eyes.
Informal caregivers — most of whom are seniors — are the beasts of burden of Canada’s health-care system. They provide $25 million a year in unpaid labour, but they often destroy themselves doing it.
Motivated by love, duty or compassion, they seldom complain. And those who try to speak out for them — relatives, neighbours, a few home care organizations and a handful of doctors — are ignored.
Now a major government-funded agency is sounding the alarm.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) issued a report in late August called Supporting Informal Caregivers: The Heart of Home Care. It showed that one in six people caring for ailing seniors at home is in distress. The number shoots up to one in three if the senior has cognitive problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, one in two if the senior is aggressive or abusive.
These are the first authoritative figures on the problem. Up to now, advocates have relied on estimates or anecdotal evidence.
At a time when Ontario is encouraging seniors to stay in their homes for as a long as possible, it is important to know who is providing the support they need.
If a couple is married, the primary caregiver is the spouse. If not, it is typically an adult child. If neither is available, a relative, friend or neighbour takes on the role.
As the demands of caring for the senior increase, so does the toll on the caregiver, resulting in physical exhaustion, depression, anger and conflict with other relatives and friends. With more support, they could get out, meet friends, go shopping, see their grandchildren. But they aren’t getting it. Many don’t even know where to look.
When Dalton McGuinty became premier in 2003, he promised Ontarians, “If you require care, want it in your home and that care costs less than sending you to a hospital or nursing home, we will make sure you get it.”
That pledge must be kept. Other changes are needed as well.
 • Workplaces will have to allow employees the flexibility to help parents or friends experiencing health problems.
 • Ottawa’s compassionate care leave program will have to be modified. It allows a worker to claim up to six weeks of employment insurance when caring for a gravely ill relative or friend.
But it is seldom used because many Canadians find the idea of providing a doctor’s certificate, stating that the person they want to be with faces a “significant risk of death,” repugnant.
 • The Canada Pension Plan will have to be adjusted. It allows workers to take time off to care for young children without jeopardizing their retirement benefits. A similar provision is needed for workers who do the same for aging parents.
 • And the province will have to make it easier for seniors to navigate the health-care system so they know where to go for help.
Now is the time. We know that Canada’s population is aging. We know the incidence of dementia is increasing. And we know people want to remain independent for as long as possible.
That requires home care. It’s part of the health-care system now, as much as doctors, hospitals, drugs and therapy. It has to be funded properly, delivered when it is needed and include support for both the patient and caregiver.
Who will pay? All of us, either through our taxes or through lost earnings, family stress and caregiver burnout.

Carol Goar’s column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

At Least Hayward Understands The Meaning Of Father's Day...

Narcissist In Chief

Nevermind the sludge-covered birds and the oily coastline, it was Father's Day.  Where were Malia and Sasha..?

"I think that a little time to himself on Father’s Day weekend probably does us all good as American citizens that our president is taking that time,”

At least Tony Hayward was spending the time with his son.

Wonder Woman on June 22, 2010

Why Are Kids Usually The Victims Of Adult Stupidity...

Tasha Kheiriddin: Sometimes unequal works

Tasha Kheiriddin: Sometimes unequal works, Part II

Tasha Kheiriddin  June 16, 2010 – 11:30 am

Yesterday I wrote a column, about my feelings on Bill C-422 and the presumption of shared custody, which got an extremely negative reaction from readers.  Apparently I have now joined the ranks of “sperm-hunting lesbians”, hormonally-challenged post-partum mothers, and other such stereotypes.  It would be almost comical if the issue wasn’t such a serious one, or one that matters to me very deeply as a parent.
Needless to say, I was surprised by the visceral tone of many comments.  So was our daughter’s father, who had received many positive reactions from friends about the piece, and was himself supportive of it.   Read More »

 

 

Different Celebrations

No Winners.......

Christie Blatchford

No remorse, no mercy: Teenage ‘puppet master’ sentenced to life

What is still a mystery is how Melissa Todorovic, with her stable background and loving family, grew into the girl who would plot the death of Stefanie Rengel

I'm An Adult Now

Posted 7/28/2009 11:31:00 AM I've known what Melissa Todorovic looks like and I've obviously known her name for months now, thanks to a colleague in the business who can sniff out anything on the Internet. For months she was only "M.T.", the accused and then convicted killer of Stefanie Rengel. Protected by the faulty Youth Criminal Justice Act, it took a brave sentence from Justice Ian Nordheimer to introduce Toronto to a teen who coldly and sexually enticed another young offender to kill an innocent girl.

Melissa's Facebook support page, when I saw it months ago, was filled with gangzta postz from friendz who seem incapable of expressing any thought unless it contains words like "bitch", "killaz" and "girlfriend". Melissa's supporters indicated that Stefanie either got what she deserved or that poor Melissa was being victimized because every teenaged girl would kill a rival.

It was eye-opening stuff, including some of those teenage "glamour" ...

[ READ MORE ]

Posted By: Mike Stafford