Senior Care
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association encourage the Government of Alberta to develop creative programs and solutions that will offer family and extended family members the option to provide care for aging parents in a fashion similar to that offered through the “Kinship” Child Care Program.
WHEREAS it is the role of Government is to provide safety, health and welfare of people;
WHEREAS the Government of Alberta has identified a growing crisis to maintain an acceptable level of care for our aging population;
WHEREAS the Premier has on numerous occasions expressed concern and a desire to find alternative solutions to care for and maintain the dignity of our aging population;
WHEREAS in general people are more contented, healthy, and well cared-for when care is provided in a family home and by relatives;
WHEREAS costs borne by both the Province and by the families of Alberta in caring for aging parents continue to increase and are unsustainable in the long-term;
WHEREAS the aging demographic and chronic lack of adequate housing and care solutions for seniors demandsinnovative solutions and the development of creative alternatives;
WHEREAS many families, if given an opportunity, would like to provide direct, in-home care for their aged parents but need options for maintaining income levels and/or standard of living; and
WHEREAS significant provincial and family cost savings could be realized by permitting family members to provide, when appropriate and within a good regulatory environment, direct in-home care and accommodation for aging relatives.
Sep 7, 2012 - Health
With the exception of special cases, caregivers do not receive special payment for the provision of care for a family member and the GOA has no plans to institute payment for family members to care for senior family members.
AUMA accepts this response.