Printers 12 pg Express 5.15 5/13/02 2:05 PM Page 8 Page 4 EXPRESS May 15, 2002 express on line – www.expressnews.ca ADVERTISING: Kirsten Chapman ADMINISTRATION: Kari Magnuson / Marina Kiborn DISTRIBUTION: Eugene Schmunk PRODUCTION: Kent Nelson / Matthew Culp ISSN 1196-7471 EXPRESS PHONE (250) 354-3910 EDITORIAL 354-1118 OFFICE HOURS Monday to Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm The Express Newspaper is owned by FAX 352-5075 Kootenay Express Communication Corp. Publications Mail Agreement #0654353. Paid at Nelson, B.C. E-MAIL express@expressnews.bc.ca PUBLISHER / EDITOR Nelson Becker ADDRESS 554 Ward St. Nelson, B.C. V1L 1S9 OPINION & LETTERS Rethink homecare Mental health is a Dear Editor, Yesterday I visited my 82-year-old I finally community concern friend in Nelson who was also most upset over the loss of her homemak- t all my chakras open. the right diets, I know er services, except one hour twice a The quality of a community’s mental health is the week for baths. “They’re allowed to ood is. rm completely c clean the tub afterwards, but not to d balanced in every wa sum total of the quality of each of its individuals men- N BORED WITH LIFE mop up, even if water is spilled on tal health. the floor,” she explained to me. This woman was born and grew We all know someone who has been a user of men- up in the Kootenays, and held jobs tal health services. Almost all of us have our ups and in the area for many years, in addi- downs. Yet, mental health is not a common topic of tion to raising her own children here. She has had both hips conversation. When we ask a neighbour, how they are, replaced and suffers from severe we do not really want to know. We are satisfied with, arthritis, especially in her back. She fine and ok. Our neighbour does not want us to know cannot walk outside without sup- port, and is quite unsteady even either. People who are feeling emotionally down are inside her apartment. She has had aware of the negative stigma attached to their mood homemaking help from Nelson swings. They may not go out, because they do not Home Support for more than the ten want to be seen in their present state. Feelings of years that I’ve known her. Before this cut, she already had depression include feelings of loneliness. difficulty making ends meet finan- cially. Now, she’s also supposed to We must learn how to hear others with real curiosi- pay for someone to do her house- ty. When we ask how someone is, we can ask follow work for two hours per week. In support of specialists Is the B.C. government trying to Dear Editor, we are faced with losing them up questions. We can care and caring helps. As employees of specialists at completely. force people with disabilities and seniors into nursing homes before the Kootenay Lake Regional As far as we know, nowhere The truth is that none of us is alone. We must find they need it? Surely this costs con- Hospital in Nelson, we have a else in the province, EXCEPT ways to be closer to each other. We must find ways to siderably more than paying for a few realistic perspective of just what NELSON, has the government be honest and direct without fear of stigmatizing our hours a week of household help, and how our specialists con- removed all specialist services. thereby enabling many older people tribute to this community. With the loss of these special- relationships. We have written this letter in ists goes the loss of many valu- to remain in their homes, sometimes for years longer. After all, this support of our specialists. These able medical services such as: We must learn to be non-judgmental. No one is a province already has 6,000 to 7,000 doctors have chosen to live and General surgery (breast cancer bad person because of his or her emotional state. citizens on waiting lists for interme- raise their families in beautiful surgery, bowel surgery, tonsils, diate and long term care services. Nelson, B.C. for a reason. But due hernias, appendix, gallbladder, Everyone in our universe knows something that we Leaving water spilled on bath- to the recent government cut- carpal tunnel, trauma surgery, room floors is sure to lead to backs, they are now expected to etc.), Obstetrics/Gynecology do not know. We know something that no one else leave Nelson, uprooting their lives (high risk births, including low increased falls, which produce bro- knows. It is our job to find out what others know and ken bones, ambulance trips to emer- and practices. Our patients have risk that can become high risk in a to transmit what we know. Our lives are always gency rooms, surgeries and hospital stated that they don’t want their heartbeat), Paediatrics, Internal changed by our interactions with others. stays – all very expensive alterna- specialists to leave, and travelling Medicine (chemotherapy, diabetic tives to several hours a week of rel- is a horrible burden for many, care, cardiac stress testing, etc.), atively cheap housework. especially on our winding and radiology and pathology. Mental health is not much different from physical dangerous highways. Many Fortunately, it looks like there will It is unconscionable to endanger health. There is always room for improvement. our seniors and other vulnerable cit- patients travel from Kaslo, be a good chance that izens in order to pay for a tax reduc- Nakusp, New Denver, Ophthalmology will stay. tion, primarily for our wealthier Meadowcreek, Creston, Riondel, It is costing us our health, by people. The housework component Crawford Bay, etc., and are now losing all of these specialist ser- of home support is a very cost- faced with having to travel at least vices. It affects all of us – past, FISH HEADS •••••••••••••• effective way to keep seniors and others with disabilities safe in their own homes, which is usually where they want to be. It’s also far less an extra hour (on a good clear day) to Trail. In case of an emergency, this could mean life or death. With all local specialists book- present and future patients. If ever there was a time to band together, now is the time to do it. It’s our health care, and these doctors are & FLOWERS expensive than caring for them in nursing homes or hospitals after they have accidents or become sick from easily preventable causes. ing patients well into the summer or fall, how do the doctors in Trail expect to cope with this addition- al load, and where will all the our lifelines. Politicians have decided what medical services you do not need. It may determine not only how long you live, but FLOWERS – To all the generous FISH HEADS – To the nimrod I ask the government to please re- patients they can’t accommodate how well you live. Don’t let people who donate to the Nelson who almost ran my children over think this senseless and inhumane cut go? politicians decide your fate. United Church Food Cupboard. on Ward & Vernon We have been fortunate to Dawn Jacobsen, Louise and restore homemaking services. – Loaves and Fishes – Angry Mother have some of the very best spe- Poole, Maureen DeBiasio, Pegasis McGauley FISH HEADS – To the city Nelson cialists here in Nelson, and now Bonnie Neumar & Trudy Allan FLOWERS – To my husband worker who’s watch doesn’t run who gave me a wonderful mothers past 4:00 day. – Out of town – Still Going Strong Letters to the Editor We encourage our readers to write to us. and are more in-depth than letters. All submissions to the Express Fish Heads and Flowers section will be considered pro- Please address letters meant for publication to the If you wish to write a commentary, please contact the vided that no individual is directly identified in the text or signature, all signatures are Editor. We do not accept open letters. Letters must be short Editor. anonymous, and the submission is both concise and written in good taste. 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