• About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home *Opinion*

New Brunswick seniors need more social supports

by Emma Bradley, Keirstin Hoyt and Laura Whitty
June 19, 2021
Reading Time: 3min read
Time to value care of older adults in New Brunswick: future social worker

Photo from Pixabay.

New Brunswick’s aging population are feeling the effects of social isolation, loneliness, and financial stress. However, this is not a new phenomenon.

Cost-cutting measures and policy changes by the government of New Brunswick have been affecting our most vulnerable populations for years, and the repercussions are only exacerbated by the global pandemic.

Seniors, in general, experience barriers to accessing service. Low-income seniors face even more systemic challenges when it comes to health care and health coverage.

The current policy in New Brunswick does not reflect the unique needs of our growing senior’s population who rely on social supports. Once an individual reaches the age of 65, they are no longer eligible for the Social Development “White” Health Card. This Health Card is integral for ensuring individuals relying on social income supports can access the health and medical coverage required to meet their needs. At the age of 65, individuals relying on this Health Card must apply for the New Brunswick Drug Plan to continue to access their prescriptions.

But the New Brunswick Drug Plan only covers prescription medications, thus seniors who require health coverage for medical equipment or devices are left without. This includes seniors in need of sterile diabetic equipment, hearing aids, eyeglasses, orthotics, and more. How can we expect seniors to successfully age in place when they are living without essential and basic medical care?

To add to this, seniors who apply late for additional health coverage are penalized. If a senior does not apply for the Seniors’ Health Program within 60 days of turning 65, they are subject to a medical questionnaire. They can be denied based on their medical history leaving them without any coverage for medical services or equipment. If the senior gets approved, there is a one-year waiting period for other essential benefits such as diabetic supplies, orthotics, and glasses. This means the senior will be paying for benefits they are not able to use.

These are just a few examples of the barriers facing our aging population in regards to their health.

Our population is aging, our healthcare systems are struggling, and we need to find solutions to ensure New Brunswick seniors have affordable access to medical equipment that will help them age well and remain in their homes and communities.

We need to be creative in addressing the health needs of our aging population.

One way to ensure low-income seniors have access to required health services and medical equipment is by allowing access to the Social Development Health Card to recipients of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). These individuals have already been deemed low-income and thus have the greatest need for affordable access to health coverage.

A proposal of this solution has been issued to Bruce Fitch, Minister of Social Development, and to Dorothy Shephard, Minister of Health for New Brunswick.

Laura Whitty and Keirstin Hoyt are social work students who want more supports for seniors in New Brunswick. Photo by Emma Bradley.

But this is not enough.

We need to come together as a community and start a conversation about the barriers facing seniors in New Brunswick. This underrepresented population continues to grow, year after year, and we need to pay attention to the health and well-being of our aging population.

We ask that you start having these conversations. With your friends, with your family, and with colleagues.

We ask that you speak with your local MLA about the issues facing our aging population.

And we ask that you consider the seniors in your life. Talk to them. Empathize with their struggles and reach out to support where you can. The smallest act of kindness can go a long way.

Emma Bradley, Keirstin Hoyt and Laura Whitty are students of social work at St. Thomas University and have been researching issues facing seniors as they age-in-place.

Tags: agingEmma BradleyKeirstin HoytLaura Whittylow-incomeNew Brunswickolder adultsseniors
ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

‘Scrap Bill 25’: Tenants determined to reverse lifting of rent cap [video]
Housing

‘Scrap Bill 25’: Tenants determined to reverse lifting of rent cap [video]

November 28, 2022

Tenants and housing advocates opposed to Bill 25 gathered in front of the New Brunswick legislature on Saturday, November 26,...

New Brunswick does not need a new prison, experts say [video]
New Brunswick

New Brunswick does not need a new prison, experts say [video]

November 7, 2022

The New Brunswick government is facing criticisms over its decision to build a new $32 million prison in the Fredericton...

COMMENTARY: The myth of the free market is causing New Brunswick’s housing crisis
Housing

COMMENTARY: The myth of the free market is causing New Brunswick’s housing crisis

November 6, 2022

New Brunswick’s rent cap is set to end on December 31. The rent cap—which limited rent increases to 3.8 percent...

The gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Health

LETTER: New Brunswickers oppose moves towards private delivery of health care

November 3, 2022

Editor's note: This letter by long-time public health care advocate Jean-Claude Basque and signed by almost 100 people was sent...

Load More

Recommended

COMMENTAIRE : Même problème. Deux réalités.

COMMENTAIRE : Même problème. Deux réalités.

9 hours ago
In this battle with CUPE, it’s Higgs’ government that has the credibility problem

STATEMENT: Medavie still fails to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day, says CUPE

1 day ago
Intimate film made about ceramic artist Léopold Foulem

Intimate film made about ceramic artist Léopold Foulem

4 days ago
COMMENTARY: Against backdrop of health care crisis, two events marked by widely divergent approaches

COMMENTARY: Against backdrop of health care crisis, two events marked by widely divergent approaches

6 hours ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In