Michael Ignatieff listens to a global leader in elder care, Dr. Bill Reichman at Baycrest, Photo: Georges Alexandar
As soon as you step into Baycrest – a world class centre for elder care and research – you can tell that you’re in a special place. Right away I could see what looked like an art class underway, where very elderly patients were painting, sewing, and making necklaces, with the help of volunteers. Opera music was playing.
I’ve been to Baycrest a hundred times before – usually to visit elderly parishioners in care – and gained a deeper appreciation for what a special place it is when my aunt underwent seven months of rehabilitation here.
That’s why I was so proud to be here today with Michael Ignatieff and an unprecedented delegation of MPs and candidates as part of the Liberal Express. Michael started our visit by sharing an experience too many Canadians are familiar with – the loss of his mother and grandmother after long battles with Alzheimer’s. We were here to learn about the latest in preventing and treating memory loss and brain disorders that afflict so many seniors. Part of our tour was a presentation on the “virtual brain” – a computer model for finding alternative brain pathways when part of the brain is damaged by stroke and other illnesses.
As Baycrest CEO Dr. Bill Reichman told us, their goal is for patients to spend the last three months of their lives in a nursing home – not the last three years. It’s a goal that fits the Liberal commitment to homecare perfectly. We want to keep our seniors well and away from acute hospital care, so they can age in dignity at home. That means providing better support for caregivers – and learning from a global centre of excellence like Baycrest.
Rob Oliphant
Rob Oliphant is the Liberal MP for Don Valley West and a United Church Minister.
