4 - Worth Shore News — Wednesday, March 15, 2000 th sysie service squeez Jan-Christian Sorensen Contributing Writer A North Shore Health Region (NSHR) executive is warning area residents to brace for increased cutbacks and longer waiting lists if the province fails to accommodate an expected $2-million deficit in the board's 2000 fiscal budget. vice president of systent development and p HR, said that the planned budget shortfall is vital tor the board to increase the number of beds and shorten wait lists for surgical and long-term care within the region. “If we didn’t (plan tor) this deticit, we would see signiticant Increases in OUT wait lists.” he said. But, he added, if the provincial ministry of health gives a thumbs-dewn co the deficit when it hands down the region's bud- get later chis summer, the board will have to perform some creative surgery to shoulder the loss — and that may take a toll en other health services “Uf the ministry doesn’t accommodate the deficit, rien we'll have to start looking at restricting some services and chat could lead to longer wait lists.” He said he hopes to see more funds trom Ouawa as part of Finance Minister Paul Martin's recent federal budget, but it still may not be enough to cope with the growing demands of the NSHR — one of the province's largest health regio The region provides services to over 179,000 residents in the Ciry and District of North couver and the Lions Bav and Bowen [sland communitics. “The problem is that the demand for our servic exceeds the capac ave,” said Bruce. “Even with ‘ (in funding) we may still have difficulry meeting the demand.” Bruce spoke on the weekend during a community forum held to give North Shore residents and stakeholders an opportunit consult with the regional board and offer feedback as it prepares to revise its three-year Health Services Plan. He said that the forum — the first of its kind in the region — served as an important tool for gathering input from the people most directly affected by the plan. “Too often we rely on the experts or special interest group: this forum gives a balance to that. These are people that kno’ issues from their own experience so it gives a different 7 than we get from other groups.” Future forums will serve as an opportunity for the board to gauge not only how effective its policies and programs have been, but what sort of initiatives it should consider implementing down the ros In keeping with its mandate of community consultation, the NSHR board has also established six populacon advisory groups — seniors, women, youth, mental health, nwlticultural and people with disabilities — to further serve as a barometer for public opin- ion. “The public advisory groups are key to keeping the board in touch with the issues that are out there in the community,” said Bruce. During the four-hour forum at Lions Gate Hospital, partici- pants broke off into small groups to discuss a variety of health care issues of concern to North Shore residents such as quality care and services, child health and development and community based alternatives for seniors. The latter topic received the most attention within the groups, ostensibly because of the growing population of seniors within the region. Just over 14% of the North Shore population is comprised of People over 65 years of age — a number that is expected to under- £0 significant growth in coming years. The population of those 85 years or older is also expected to jump by ar least 50% during the next decade. Conversely, the NSHR expects a decline in the 19 years and younger age group. Guest speaker Mary Collins, a Vancouver-based health consul- tant, talked about what sort of impact the burgeoning elderly pop- ulation would fiave on other health services in the region. Care for seniors currently accounts for nearly half of the NSHR's annual fiscal budget. Collins, who served a nine-y sar term as Capilano- Howe Sound MP and a three-year stint as president and CEO of the British Columbia Health Association, warned that despite the expected upswing of seniors, it remains important that other groups not be overlooked. ~“Qur population is aging,” she said, “and the health needs of the elderly are going to have an impact on all the other health ser- vices. But you have to be careful that you don’t then forget about the other populations of the North Shore and ensuring that ser- Vices are also accessible and apprepriate for those groups as well.” One group at the community foruni focused primarily on the Whistler's RIOUNTAINSIDE GZ LODGE -& Mid Week Special Sunday Thru Thursday From $159 dounie or $215 quad per night ski in ski out village location kitchen, F/P, whirlpool, pool, jacuzzi, 100 yards to gondolas. Reservations: 664-5643 - - Email: msi@whistlerweb.com I | issue of reaching out to isolated | semors within their commmuni- | tes and making them more | aware of the programs and ser- includes seniors fearful of utiliz- ine certain services bee 10 afford them. Mi participants suggest: ed establishing a “senior’s cor- ner” in cach North Shore com: munity to help bridge the yap. Group members abo expressed concern about con netations the term “adult day: care have tor some seniors, Collins agrecd. “It sounds Kind oof denigrating,” she adnitted. The pnportance of main- taining open lines of communi cation between seniors, their family and physician was alse dis- cussed. Ir was suggested that some seniors may shy away from diagnosing potential health concerns for tear their family will place them in a nursing home. “How do we respect the rights of the senior but fend support to the family?” ene woman asked. One such solution touted by the group was the sigaing of a “representation agreement” or a document —- akin to a living will ~- wherein the senior niatkes clear their intentions should an acei- mas © RETIREMENT HEWS photo Ju’i> Iverson HEALTH policy consultant Mary Collins addressed participants at a North Shore Health Region forum held Saturday at Lions Gate Hospital. | dent or health problem arise in the future and they were unable to speak for themselves at that time. Collins said that it is vital for the region to continue to invest in health-care research and keep abreast of new technologies, such as long-distance health care via the Internet, She also urged the board to employ the appropriate human resources planning when implementing programs to ensure that the necessary health ser- vices are provided to patients in a cost-effective way and at the appropriate ume. for an appointment \ ¢ Rental I © Crib Cart © MOVING EXPENSES * INVESTMENT INCOME * CAPITAL GAINS © Disapiiry CREDITs We also offer Financial Planning Services WHITTAKER & ASSOCIATES CUARTERED ACCOUNTANTS #103 - 3151 Woodbine Dave (Edgemont Village) 988-7832