Calgary seniors produce play on mandatory medical assistance to cope with rising health care costs – Calgary | 24CA News
A examine commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association estimates the price and demand for elder care will almost double by 2031.
There’s no avoiding that an getting older inhabitants will proceed to contribute to spending development. Or is there if we get rid of the issue?
A Calgary seniors’ appearing group is exploring a surprising future for the aged in a play referred to as Bill C773.
The 12 months is 2037. Health care prices are skyrocketing in Canada and the economic system is in freefall.
To forestall additional monetary disaster, a legislation is handed requiring Mandatory Medical Assistance in Dying for all those that have reached their eighty fifth birthday.
The numbers are actual: Statistics Canada says the variety of folks aged 85 and older has doubled since 2001 and will triple by 2046.
Louise Day is the president of the Seniors’ Acting Lab. The 72 year-old Calgary lady wrote the play to create a dialogue each about MAID and well being prices pushed by an getting older inhabitants.
“I believe a lot of people who are seniors know someone who has made the decision to go ahead with MAID, but no one talks about it,” Day mentioned whereas at a rehearsal for the play on Friday.
“It’s a logical solution to a terrible situation and I think we’re going to see more of it in the future because people are starting to talk about it as an acceptable alternative,” Day mentioned.
Chris Hetherington performs the senator who proposed the legislation requiring folks to depart at 85. He says people generally tend to kick disagreeable topics, whether or not local weather change or the gray tsunami down the highway.
“You cannot stand on the sidelines and be complacent and just say I hope it all work out,” Heatherington mentioned.
He mentioned being a part of the play and now being a senior has elevated his consciousness of the problems the play raises.
“The requirement for us citizens to be engaged and have these conversations in an unblinking fashion — that’s our responsibility as citizens,” Heatherington mentioned.
Day made it clear she shouldn’t be advocating for medical help in dying however is hoping the play begins a dialog.
“I’m very aware now of where I’m heading and I would hope that I would make some good choices. I would not want to be one of the ones sitting in a chair and drooling,” Day mentioned.
Day believes “we are what we do” and within the actions that preserve seniors going, like participating in Calgary’s arts group.
A examine revealed two years in the past commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) estimates the price and demand for elder care will almost double by 2031.
The CMA warned that planning and funding by all governments “should be underway today to cope with this unprecedented demographic shift and the disruption to our current model of institutional care.”
The report mentioned a part of the answer lies with shifting sufferers who’re presently in hospitals to extra applicable care settings and by making higher use of house care.
Bill C773 might be displaying on the Vertigo Theatre in Calgary from June 8 – 11 as a part of Senior Matters II — Two one act performs.
Seniors’ Week in Alberta is from June 5 to 11.
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