Home & Community Care Meeting
Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 10:50AM An initial meeting was held on Thursday, Feb 5th to talk about the need for on-island medical support for people with health related or age related issues so they can remain in their own homes for as long as possible. It also recognized the need for respite support for caregivers. 25 people attended the event with another 12 contributing their thoughts by email. It is clear that everyone wants at least some health related supports to be available on the island.
People brainstormed both medical and practical needs. Many people knew of other communities that had had similar issues and found solutions for them. We started building a list of these communities so we can learn from others. We also talked about possible options for Thetis Islanders. These ideas will be included in ongoing discussions. Of course, all ideas are welcome and will inform our own thinking. We realize that we need to be practical and supportive as we look for long term solutions for the community. Detailed notes were taken and can be emailed to anyone who is interested. The meeting was also taped which can be copied for those who want it.
A committee was set up to take the information provided from this meeting and move it forward. It will include the following as first steps:
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Begin or continue discussions with Island Health about how to move forward.
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Do a needs assessment with people on the island about the number of people needing support.
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Look at quick do-able solutions for some immediate problems as we explore long term solutions for the community at large.
Four people agreed to be on the committee. We are looking for another 2 or 3 people who are interested in being part of the committee. Also, if you have comments or thoughts, we want to hear from you. We will also collect information from you when we do the needs assessment.
Please email Colleen Kasting at ckasting@telus.net if you are interested in being on the committee or have comments.
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