Council steps up to fund paramedic project to support vulnerable seniors

Excerpt from Lindsay Advocate article by Roderick Benns

Vulnerable seniors in Kawartha Lakes may get the help they need after Kawartha Lakes City Council endorsed the idea of a three-month pilot run by local paramedics.

Mayor Andy Letham brought forward the proposed project idea by Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service today after the Local Health Integration twice turned the paramedics down for $25,000 to fund the pilot.

The Lindsay Advocate originally broke the story about scores of people across the City who are over age 60 and are struggling due to a lack of some cognitive abilities. There isn’t any program or service in Kawartha Lakes set up to help them. In some cases family members have tried to help but have failed, due to the ongoing effort that is required with people who have dementia or some kind of cognitive challenge.

In other cases the person is estranged from family or simply has no relatives to draw support from. In all cases, these are not seniors who are seeking help.

A working group for gaps in senior services was created, spearheaded by Women’s Resources and Ross Memorial Hospital, but also involving Community Care, Kawartha Lakes Police Services, OPP, A Place Called Home, Elder Abuse, and a local capacity assessor.

A recent community meeting was held to seek input, which Letham attended