Manitok ThompsonSA国际影视传媒檚 voice shakes with frustration as she discusses the possibility that the 6th Legislative Assembly may not veer away from a regional approach to Elder care, a model endorsed by the previous assembly.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think they have the will to change the plan from regional centres to smaller, three-bedroom, four-bedroom Elder care in communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Thompson, who spearheaded an online petition last October that amassed 20,000 signatures in favour of keeping Elders in communities when they lose the ability to live independently.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen they build those regional centres (in Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay), theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to say we have enough (long-term care) beds, we canSA国际影视传媒檛 build in your communities. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 going to shut down any ideas the communities may be thinking of.SA国际影视传媒�

Thompson, a Kivalliq MLA from 1995 to 2004, said itSA国际影视传媒檚 feasible for municipalities to partner with the local housing organization and the GN to identify a suitable building in each community to convert into a home for Elders who do not have complex care needs.

SA国际影视传媒淚t seems like the deputy ministers have a lot of pull in making things happen SA国际影视传媒� the government does not trust the local person or the local communities,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e talked to a lot of Elders saying, you know we really thought we have Inuit politicians now, we have Inuit ministers now, somethingSA国际影视传媒檚 going to change and the Inuit mindset will be ruling. But no, itSA国际影视传媒檚 been a disappointment SA国际影视传媒� ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a shame. It is a shame.SA国际影视传媒�

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 also exasperated that the GN keeps promoting Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles but yet wonSA国际影视传媒檛 commit to allowing Elders to age in their communities.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey want to die in their communities,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that she recently heard an Arviat Elder speaking of the spiritual importance of burying Inuit where they were born.

In the Legislative Assembly on March 14, Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki inquired about creating long-term care facilities in every Nunavut community instead of just regional hubs. Health Minister John Main replied, SA国际影视传媒淲e currently donSA国际影视传媒檛 have any plans for a project along those lines.SA国际影视传媒�

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Three days later, Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak and Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Brewster pressed Main on improving Elder care in communities.

Nutarak emphasized the need for home and community care to keep Elders in their own residences for as long as possible.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving this kind of care available for our Elders in the community, with caregivers speaking Inuktitut and being near family and friends aligns very closely with the concepts of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit,SA国际影视传媒� said Nutarak. SA国际影视传媒淚 recognize that not every community is currently able to offer home-care services and I do appreciate that some of our Elders may have complex medical conditions and that an individual with dementia may require a higher level of care.

SA国际影视传媒淗owever, I am concerned that for Elders who are sent away from their homes, the risks of developing complex medical issues or the onset of dementia may increase as a result of their relocation.SA国际影视传媒�

Main noted that the latest statistics from his department indicate that there are 1,402 home care clients in Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淪o the demand is definitely there and the trend is up year over year in terms of the home care demand for services,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that prior to the pandemic, the Department of Health worked with Nunavut Arctic College to deliver 10-day courses to numerous communities and SA国际影视传媒渢hat was part of making sure that our workforce is available to deliver the services needed.SA国际影视传媒�

He expressed hope that those sorts of courses may be able to resume soon with the pandemic easing.

SA国际影视传媒淓lder care is much more than facilities and long-term care. There is a lot of importance around services and keeping Elders where they are the most comfortable, in their own homes, maybe next door to one of their family members,SA国际影视传媒� said Main. SA国际影视传媒淚n that line, itSA国际影视传媒檚 something that I anticipate will be included as part of the development of that strategy and rightly so because itSA国际影视传媒檚 very important.SA国际影视传媒�

BrewsterSA国际影视传媒檚 focus was primarily on assurances that the Inuit perspective is not overlooked.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is no denying that the voices of our Elders and their family members are not being adequately taken into consideration with respect to Elder care,SA国际影视传媒� Brewster asserted. SA国际影视传媒淚 strongly believe that decisions with respect to Elder care, in both an individual context and in the context of the broader population, must be informed from an Inuit perspective. I recognize the expertise of our health professionals in delivering healthcare, however we cannot exclude the importance of culture when we determine how that healthcare will be delivered.SA国际影视传媒�

Brewster asked Main to ensure that the GNSA国际影视传媒檚 long-term Elder Care Strategy will require that Inuit cultural representatives have input in that legislation SA国际影视传媒渁nd that their voices will be heard and reflected in the final strategy document.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淵es, I can commit to that,SA国际影视传媒� Main replied, adding that Elder care involves other government departments as it also pertains to SA国际影视传媒減urpose-built housing, prevention of Elder abuse, cultural considerations and benefits for low-income seniors.SA国际影视传媒�