It’s time to talk eldercare, Scarborough Hospital says

Twenty-four-year-old Sam Christensen, his parents and his grandmother had something important to talk about, which is why they were at The Scarborough Hospital earlier this month.

On Feb. 9, the hospital hosted its first It’s Time to Talk forum. The theme for the Wednesday night event was Tough Transitions: Aging, Families and Eldercare.

“We decided to come tonight as a family,” Christensen said. “We all want to be on the same page and make this plan together.”

The aim of the forum was to educate the community about options available for eldercare, said Debbie Driver, a nurse practitioner at the hospital.

“We pulled this event together because we really feel it’s important that people advocate for themselves,” she said. “They need to communicate what’s important to them and their wishes so that they can think about planning for their future.

“As the hospital, it’s our role to help our community and advocate for them,” she continued. “The whole purpose of this evening is to get people thinking about what’s important to them and communicating that to the people who are important to them.”

Pauline Chan, CTV News health reporter and the event’s moderator, has reported on many health issues over the years. When it comes to caring for elders, she said, “no question is too basic to ask.”

The forum featured a variety of speakers and guests had the opportunity to visit several booths offering information on aspects of eldercare, including orthopaedic help and senior care facilities.

“If we keep our seniors safe and independent and give them all of their resources, it will help with everyone,” Home Instead Senior Care spokesperson Janise Smith said. “It will help family members who take care of them and it will help the hospital keep down numbers.”