The Ministry of Health announced Wednesday the appointment of Canada's first provincial seniors advocate, naming Isobel Mackenzie to the historic post.
Mackenzie becomes charged with monitoring seniors' health services and identifying solutions to systemic problems that may arise within the health ministry as they relate to seniors care. In the Office of the Seniors Advocate she will collaborate with seniors, families, policymakers and service providers, according to a government news release.
"I have spent nearly two decades working directly with seniors, their families and their care providers and learning about the individual issues that affect seniors as they age and receive care," wrote Mackenzie.
Mackenzie is said to have an extensive background working with seniors.
Mackenzie was the B.C. director of the Canadian Home Care Association from 2007 to 2011. She was also a member of the Care Aid Registry Advisory Committee, which helps oversee protection of vulnerable seniors.
For the past seven years Mackenzie also served as the commissioner for the Medical Services Commission of BC, which administers the Medicare Protection Act.
The BC Health Coalition, a large group of organizations and individuals that work within the province's health care system, said the move was a step in the right direction but that the position lacks independence from government.
"The BC health Coalition has been calling for a seniors advocate position. Unfortunately as you'll see, the position is not independent. It's under the Ministry of Health and we called for an independent position. But we certainly look forward to working with the new seniors advocate," said spokesperson Adam Lynes-Ford.
An example of an independent advocate is Representative for Children and Youth British Columbia Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.
In Richmond during the 2012/2013 fiscal year there were 1,070 home support clients served by Vancouver Coastal Health. The city also had 668 residential care beds, representing a shortage which has resulted in hospitalization of seniors in the community.
