Seniors celebrate 10th AGM

It’s the same old same old for upcoming priorities of the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society.

The seniors’ advocacy group wrapped up its 10th annual general meeting at the Legacy Centre on Monday with the outstanding issue of long-term care spaces on the agenda.

“Job-one is long-term spaces. We need a big increase in long-term spaces,” said Seniors Care Society president Graham Brown.

“We’re short 60 spaces right now. We’re short 150 spaces over the next 10 years, so we’ve got to get moving on that.”

The Seniors Care Society is hoping the Saskatchewan government eventually replaces the 52-bed Jubilee Home with a new facility and 100 spaces to create a net increase of about 50 spaces.

Brown is more optimistic both provinces will soon enact regulations to make personal health care information of Lloydminster residents accessible to biprovincial health care providers.

“They promised they would have that done by this fall,” said Brown, noting the newly-elected government in Alberta could slow the process.

Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers says the city will also continue to advocate for better health care in the city from both provinces.

“One of the first calls after the new cabinet announcement on Friday was from Paul Richer (chair of the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council),” said Aalbers.

“He says ‘Mr. Mayor, how are we going to get to the minister’ and I said ‘I’ve already talked to the MLA’ and we’re going to work on that,” said Aalbers.

Other health issues to lobby for are the need for a community-driven plan for the Dr. Cooke Extended Care site, improved ambulance service, and a permanent MRI facility.

“With the border situation and having to work with two governments, it really takes a strong local group to keep bringing these concerns to both governments to try and find a solution,” said Brown.

Brown and Dr. Raff Sayeed took a moment at the AGM to pay tribute to long-time members Betty Christensen and Len Pryor, who were both board members when they died earlier this year.

“The contributions they made were very significant,” said Brown.