Source: Devin Heroux, CBC News, April 1, 2016
Julie Arcand says she is concerned about senior care in the province
As a part of our continuing provincial election coverage, CBC News is putting a face to some of the issues people in this province are concerned about before they vote. Here is one of their personal stories.
ulie Arcand said she had it all — a $37-an-hour job working in the Alberta oilfields and her mother was in good health.
Now, she’s lost most of it.
“For the past year and a couple months, I’ve been looking after my mom who was recently diagnosed with vascular dementia,” Arcand said. “It’s been an actual nightmare.”
The two live together in a trailer home in Martensville, Sask. Arcand said there’s no one else in her family who can look after her mother, so now she’s become her full-time caregiver. She cooks every meal, takes care of all health concerns and entertains her mom daily.
“There’s some days where she’s really confused and doesn’t remember the name of her kids and getting any support is brutal,” she said.
Arcand said she feels alone and isn’t getting the proper support.
“The governments don’t seem to have any programs for us adult children looking after our parents,” she said.
“My story is probably just like everyone else’s. I’m sure there are thousands of people out there like me. We need help. We can’t get any help. It’s a nightmare. Like, I was independent and now I’m looking after my mother. And basically we’re looking after each other because I have no income.”
Arcand said she hasn’t heard much during the provincial election campaign about senior care and supports for adults who look after their parents.