June 10, 2013 Statement from Raj Sherman – Stop the corporatization of home care Edmonton – Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman has released the following statement in response to the latest example of home care being corporatized at the expense of those who depend upon it: “The decision of the Redford Conservatives to cancel a long-standing non-profit home care arrangement for disabled residents at Abby Road Co-op – handing the contract to a for-profit corporate provide instead – is just the latest example of the corporatization of home care in Alberta. “The math on this is simple: Profit plus cost of care equals price of care. This leads to several significant problems. “First of all, it leads to less care or a lower quality of care, since there is no way for a corporation to meet its duty to maximize shareholder returns without either asking the government for a subsidy or cutting back on the level of service provided. “Cutting back the level of care will negatively impact those who depend on home care, whether they be seniors or the disabled, which is the case with Abby Road Co-op. “Second of all, the reduced level and quality of privatized home care will result in more seniors and disabled Albertans being forced from their homes. The severe shortage of affordable long-term care spaces means that many will end up in hospital beds, even though they are not sick. This will further worsen already long emergency and surgery wait times. “In other words, saving a few bucks by contracting home care to private corporations is a false savings, which will lead to greater health care costs, inefficiencies, and human suffering. “It’s unfortunate that human suffering does not show up on spreadsheets, because maybe if it did then Alison Redford and Fred Horne might make decisions that better reflect the true interests and needs of Albertans. “Finally, the outsourcing of home care to Ontario corporations means that Alberta taxpayer dollars will leave this province – instead of being reinvested by non-profit providers in enhanced services for Albertans who need home care and the front-line staff who provide it. “The reasons above are why the Alberta Liberals oppose private for-profit home care. It does not work for the people who need it and leads to greater health care expenditures down the line. “The Alberta Liberals call on the Redford Conservatives to stop the corporatization of home care. “Instead, we urge them to follow the Alberta Liberal proposal to double non-profit home care funding so that seniors can live in their own homes with their spouses for as long as possible. Alberta Liberals also call for an additional supply of non-profit long-term care beds to moderate prices and ensure an adequate supply of affordable spaces. -30- For more information, contact: Justin Benko, Communications Consultant Tel: 780.644.7968. Cell: 780.995.0381. Fax: 780.427.3697. e-mail: [email protected]
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:44:53 +0000