Delta Seniors Planning Team February 18, 2014 Benediction Lutheran Church, Minutes Chair: Val Windsor Recorder: Kay Dennison, Coordinator

Attendance: Gerry Bouman, Don Browning, Lynda Brummitt, Kay Dennison, Ralph D’Souza, Lindsay Eldridge, Marg Kennett, Louise Long, Margaret Toews, Joanne Van Snellenberg, Val Windsor, George Winkelhorst, Lyn Walker, Sheila Zerr.

Item Discussion/Information Action 1. Welcome Presentation: Judith McBride, Tsawwassen Stroke Recovery Group See notes of presentation at end of minutes 2. Approval of Agenda approved with addition - updates – Update from United Way Moved Val Windsor Agenda second Lindsay Eldridge 3. Approval of Minutes on the January 21, 2014 meeting approved as circulated Moved Val Windsor Minutes second Lindsay Eldridge 4. Follow up 4.1 Authority – Public Board meeting and request for from January information – Kay Dennison and Lynda Brummitt attended meeting Minutes and provided reports. Kay Dennison David Mitchell is the Chair of the Board and Dr. Nigel Murray, CEO welcomed a packed room at the Delta Town and Country Inn. After the formal meeting an open microphone was available to anyone wanting to ask questions or make a statement.

David asked that people use the Fraser Health website to search out information. He gave the example of when there is a long wait for a surgeon you can go on the website and may find a surgeon in another 1

Item Discussion/Information Action community that would be available sooner. Information on Delta: Delta Hospital has the lowest infection rate in FHA - highest patient approval - fastest surgical recovery rate Delta Municipality has a good health status for seniors, healthier, better educated, better off financially and has a free bus service for seniors in .

Acknowledged that Delta has the lowest number of specialists available to patients in the FHA. This means patients have to go out of their community to receive treatment.

Master Plan for Delta Hospital over the next 20 years includes: Improvement and expansion of hospital, laboratory enlargement, imaging expanded, more medical beds, improve access to acute care, home support and residential care. Recognition given to Hospital Foundation and the 30 million dollars they have raised over the years. Need to keep the partnership with Delta Foundation, the Hospital Auxiliary and volunteers.

Kay spoke to the need for better transportation in Delta, HandyDART does not receive any funding from the Ministry of Health and yet 80 per cent of the rides are for medical reasons.

Using the questions provided by Kim Carter, Ombudsperson, Lynda requested the reports on residential care – the number of subsidized beds, the length of time between assessment and admission and the number of direct service hours per patient. This information was provided a few days later by Lois Dixon, Vice President of Clinical Operations – copies of her report were provided at the meeting – her

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Item Discussion/Information Action report was for 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. Concern was expressed that the number of subsidized beds had not increased in two years, despite the growing seniors’ population and pressures on seniors’ income that might require that they apply for a subsidized bed. In light of this fact it was not surprising to note that the wait time from assessment increased slightly from both hospital and home and direct service hours remained the same. It was suggested that we may want to track plans for the building of new facilities. The report was passed to the Non Medical Services Action Team to do follow up next year.

Kay also reported that Carol LeVasseur, Denturist in Ladner spoke to the need for a private space to see patients in the extended care unit at the Delta Hospital. Carol will be speaking at our General Meeting in March about this issue.

4.2 Letter to parliamentary Secretary for Seniors requesting more information about her role and staff to support her – tabled until March.

4.3 Report Back on Senior Advocate Priorities – we provided our list of priorities to United Way for inclusion in a letter that will be sent when the Advocate is hired. No news on the appointment of this position.

5. Updates 5.1 Update from United Way Action Team Lynda and Kay announced to the members that the funding for our table and the other 9 tables of the are under review. We have been told that United Way is reviewing the funding of all the “age based” community development funding birth to 6, middle years, and seniors to bring the revenue of these 3 funding streams into “balance”. Regardless of the decision to be made in March our current funding will stay in place until the end of June (end of our current 3 3

Item Discussion/Information Action year contract). Kay and Lynda have met with Doug Sabourin, Lorraine Yates and Lyn Walker at Deltassist and we want the committee to stay positive through this and know that we are looking at alternative ways to keep the committee working on supporting seniors in our community. The projects we have now in place will continue as planned .

5.2 Non Medical Services – Kay Dennison No response as yet from the application to New Horizons. The Action Team is looking at other possible funding sources.

5.3 Housing – Don Browning The three community forums have been confirmed for the vision for Paterson Park. The dates will be Saturday March 29, Saturday April 5 and Saturday April 12. Time will be 1pm to 3pm. Kin House in Ladner will be the venue. Speakers are now being arranged and information will be sent out shortly. A meeting with George Harvie, Ian Paton, John Savage and Peter Guichon and members of the Housing Action Team will take place at municipal hall on March 3 at 10 am. This discussion about Paterson park housing development will keep “the fire burning”. Recent poll done by the local newspaper found 80% of the residents interviewed were in favour of this development. The forums being presented will be advertised as accommodating all ages, housing for everyone

5.4 Transportation and Mobility – Lynda Brummitt Next meeting for the Transportation Team will be on March 4 at 1 pm at the North Deltassist office. Walkability report now going on the web site.

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Item Discussion/Information Action 6. Updates Delta Seniors Advisory Committee – new appointments expected next from other month. Gerry Bouman has applied for one of the openings. Committee 7. New 7.1 – Translink Community Consultation – Ralph D’Souza Business 2014 Optimization Program Open House – held February 13 in Ladner Ralph attended this meeting and informed us that Translink will announce on March 13 the possible cut of bus service in Delta, bus to ferry may be cut, Number 601 and 404 also may be cut or routes altered. 8. Adjournment Next Meeting March 18, 2014, 10:00 am Ladner Pioneer Library, 4683 51 Street, Ladner

Presentation : Judith McBride, Stroke Recovery Association of B.C Tsawwassen Stroke and Recovery Group Facts about strokes: • A stroke can occur at any age as this is not an age related occurrence and strokes have happened to babies before birth. • Stroke is as devastating to the individual as a heart attack • Every 10 minutes someone has a stroke in Canada. • The usual age of a stroke is between 46 yrs and 96 yrs.

What is a stroke? The blood flow is restricted in the vessels in the brain on either the right or left side. 76% of people do not die but are seriously affected.

How serious depends on the damage done to the brain and is largely connected to how soon the person gets to the hospital and is treated by a special team of doctors that are able to use the prescribed medication.

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Delta Hospital is NOT equipped to provide this treatment. , and Surrey Hospital ARE able to provide this treatment. It is important to note that the treatment needs to be done within 4 HOURS of the stroke occurrence.

Physical changes that may happen: Impaired memory, ability to learn, ability to communicate - cognitively understand what is being said but not able to respond appropriately, depression is almost always an issue, anger, anxiety, walking and balance, use of arms, recognition of family and friends, confusion.

Stroke Recovery Recovery is possible with support from society, agencies, friends and family.

The changes also occur to the caregiver (wife, partner, family member etc) as life and the relationship that was, are now very different. Stroke recovery involves support for the patient as well as the caregiver and involves learning new ways to be supportive, letting go of what was in the past and moving to the new future.

Emergency Preparedness: Member of the Richmond Fire Department had a stroke and now does presentations to help stroke recovery patients prepare for earthquake. Kay will contact for additional information.

Stroke Recovery Program by Stroke Recovery Association of BC

• Exercises offered • Education to prevent another stroke • Music therapy (Singing is possible even with speech problem) • Speech therapy

Delta Hospital does not have any facilities to assist patients at this time; patients are sent to Peace Arch or Surrey Hospitals. The usual recovery time in hospital is 4-6 months. When patients are in Peace Arch or Surrey hospital it can present a transportation problem for the caregiver and family members. When the patient is released from hospital most of their life has changed whether it’s to learn to walk, talk or even

6 swallow. The brain will try and retrain itself but continual therapy is needed. There are programs and benefits available to the patient and family but most people need assistance to navigate through the system. Stroke Recovery Association of BC is not part of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The Heart and Stroke Foundation raise money for research. Stroke Recovery Association of BC is not associated with Heart and Stroke and do not receive any donations. This program is all volunteer run.

Heart attack you recover, with stroke you recover but are forever changed, stroke needs to be more of a priority in the health care system.

Tsawwassen Stroke Recovery Group Meets on Tuesday mornings and offer speech assistance, peer support and social time and help to stay positive during recovery. North Delta residents need to go to Surrey Stroke Recovery at Guilford or to White Rock as there is not a group in North Delta There is a need for Delta Hospital to have a team to respond and administer drugs needed in the first hours of a stroke. Currently, ambulances must stop at the Delta Hospital and have to be redirected to either Peace Arch or Surrey and time is lost.

Mini strokes can also happen and people are not aware of them happening, for example, they may find themselves on the ground and think they have tripped; sometimes they may experience a brief lapse in memory etc.

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