Letter to Alzheimer Society of Windsor Essex County, written by Philippa von Ziegenweidt
Mr. Patrick Soulliere
Board Chair, Alzheimer Society of Windsor Essex County
2135 Richmond Street
Windsor ON N8Y 0A1
Dear Mr Soulliere,
I am writing to you in reference to your Board’s October 18 letter to Dr. Hoskins, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I note that Mr Cooke is an honorary director of the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County. Given his role as Co-Chair of the Programs and Services Steering Committee responsible for the Mega-hospital process, I think you will agree that the optics suggest some undue influence in this matter.
Many Windsor-Essex residents are dealing with the stress of caring for elderly parents with increased medical needs. This is something I identify with strongly on a personal level, having lost both of my parents a year ago to Alzheimers and complications of dementia.
Your letter refers to improved support services at the outpatient facilities proposed for Windsor’s core. What it omits is how patients will be supported outside of business hours, and how the distance to the proposed acute care hospital will make it significantly more difficult for caregivers to get elderly patients the hospital-based care they need, and to support them while they are hospitalized.
The Ministry of Finance warns that our senior population is ballooning while the population of those younger than 65 will decline in the next 25 years:
Board Chair, Alzheimer Society of Windsor Essex County
2135 Richmond Street
Windsor ON N8Y 0A1
Dear Mr Soulliere,
I am writing to you in reference to your Board’s October 18 letter to Dr. Hoskins, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I note that Mr Cooke is an honorary director of the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County. Given his role as Co-Chair of the Programs and Services Steering Committee responsible for the Mega-hospital process, I think you will agree that the optics suggest some undue influence in this matter.
Many Windsor-Essex residents are dealing with the stress of caring for elderly parents with increased medical needs. This is something I identify with strongly on a personal level, having lost both of my parents a year ago to Alzheimers and complications of dementia.
Your letter refers to improved support services at the outpatient facilities proposed for Windsor’s core. What it omits is how patients will be supported outside of business hours, and how the distance to the proposed acute care hospital will make it significantly more difficult for caregivers to get elderly patients the hospital-based care they need, and to support them while they are hospitalized.
The Ministry of Finance warns that our senior population is ballooning while the population of those younger than 65 will decline in the next 25 years:
The Erie St Clair LHIN tell us that: "Seniors (age 65+) are three times more likely to be hospitalized than younger people and receive care in nearly every area of the hospital.”
They also tell us that:
They also tell us that:
I agree strongly with the Alzheimer Society’s call for investment in healthcare to meet our future needs.
Where I disagree—equally strongly—is in the idea that the proposed site on County Road 42 will help us to do so.
A hospital to serve the community needs to be easily accessible to the neighbourhoods that are home to the greatest numbers of elderly residents.
At 13 km from the city centre and 18 km from the west end, the proposed location is significantly further away than any other city in Canada. Those who will be most affected are residents of Windsor’s lowest income neighbourhoods, where significant numbers of residents are dependent on public transportation to get around.
This is a risky, and perhaps even reckless, medical experiment that will have disastrous consequences.
I understand the need for better access to healthcare services for county residents, who are also seeing their communities age. However, the removal of hospital services from Windsor residents in order to achieve this goal, will lead to significant problems in Windsor’s core.
Thousands of Windsor and, admittedly in lesser numbers, County residents, are expressing well-founded concerns with a highly visible lawn sign campaign. I am sure you are seeing them too, but you can also see where we are tracking their placement at bitly.com/CAMPP_lawnsigns.
The Alzheimer Society has first-hand knowledge of the challenges of providing healthcare services to a rapidly expanding senior population. It is therefore disappointing to see your organization bowing to pressure to support the #WEareready campaign.
This is a $2 billion investment. We can’t afford a $2 billion mistake.
Yours sincerely,
Philippa von Ziegenweidt
Cc: Lisa Gretzky, MPP Windsor West
Percy Hatfield, MPP Windsor Tecumseh
Where I disagree—equally strongly—is in the idea that the proposed site on County Road 42 will help us to do so.
A hospital to serve the community needs to be easily accessible to the neighbourhoods that are home to the greatest numbers of elderly residents.
At 13 km from the city centre and 18 km from the west end, the proposed location is significantly further away than any other city in Canada. Those who will be most affected are residents of Windsor’s lowest income neighbourhoods, where significant numbers of residents are dependent on public transportation to get around.
This is a risky, and perhaps even reckless, medical experiment that will have disastrous consequences.
I understand the need for better access to healthcare services for county residents, who are also seeing their communities age. However, the removal of hospital services from Windsor residents in order to achieve this goal, will lead to significant problems in Windsor’s core.
Thousands of Windsor and, admittedly in lesser numbers, County residents, are expressing well-founded concerns with a highly visible lawn sign campaign. I am sure you are seeing them too, but you can also see where we are tracking their placement at bitly.com/CAMPP_lawnsigns.
The Alzheimer Society has first-hand knowledge of the challenges of providing healthcare services to a rapidly expanding senior population. It is therefore disappointing to see your organization bowing to pressure to support the #WEareready campaign.
This is a $2 billion investment. We can’t afford a $2 billion mistake.
Yours sincerely,
Philippa von Ziegenweidt
Cc: Lisa Gretzky, MPP Windsor West
Percy Hatfield, MPP Windsor Tecumseh