Senior waits 33 hours for care at Brantford General Hospital

Hamilton Spectator reporter Joanna Frketich recounts the tragic story of Len King, who “could walk and talk when he waved goodbye to his family from the ambulance. He ended up bedridden, incoherent and died in hospital. The health of a Brant County senior declined so rapidly during 33 hours waiting for care in a busy emergency department that his family compared it to “falling off a cliff.” It’s a scenario that is not uncommon in overcrowded and understaffed hospitals around the province.”

Read the full story here

Story is just the tip of the iceberg

(published in Hamilton Spectator, Aug 11, 2024)

August 8, 2024

Dear Editor,

I am compelled to address the pressing issue of overcrowding in Ontario’s emergency rooms, particularly as it pertains to our senior population. Joanna Frketich’s recent article on Len King’s experience shines a much-needed light on a problem that is both pervasive and underreported.

As the Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, I receive daily accounts from our members about the struggles they face within our healthcare system. I have personally witnessed this with my own elderly parents. My father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, was left in a hallway for days, leading to delirium, the use of restraints and sedation. These experiences are not isolated incidents but rather indicative of a systemic failure.

We are merely seeing the tip of the iceberg as our healthcare system crashes into a crisis, exacerbated by the growing number of seniors requiring care. Emergency rooms are beyond capacity, and ageism plays a significant role in the lack of action from authorities. There is an urgent need for comprehensive reform to address these issues and ensure that our elderly citizens receive the dignity and care they deserve.

As I advocated for my father, I felt an overwhelming sense of shame—not only for his treatment but for the countless other seniors who were on their own, left without a voice in the understaffed ERs’ overcrowded hallways, unable to navigate a broken system.

It is imperative that we, as a society, recognize and address this growing crisis. Our elders, who have contributed so much to our communities, should not have to endure such indignities in their most vulnerable moments.

Thank you for bringing attention to this dire situation. I hope that through continued reporting and advocacy, we can spur the necessary changes to improve our healthcare system for all, particularly our aging population.

Anthony Quinn
CARP