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Articles by Pat Armstrong
Why seniors’ care should have been on the election agenda
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Why seniors’ care should have been on the election agenda
I was hopeful that when the COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the plight of senior citizens, the attention might result in meaningful change. Instead, seniors seem to be getting blamed for high costs and high living. Let me set some context. The Canada Health Act is a remarkable document. It is simple and clear.
Want to fix our broken home-care system? Just answer these questions
Maybe you’ve found yourself worrying about how things would go if you or someone you know ends up home alone and in need of care. Or maybe you’ve already experienced the maddening search for home-care. It’s becoming familiar terrain as we wait longer for acute care, face earlier discharge from hospital or search desperately for rehab services, long-term care or temporary help after an illness or injury. Already a Subscriber?
Opinion | Workforce retention strategies that benefit all in the care economy
We’re losing workers in Care Economy jobs. The fix has nothing to do with more “choice” for people who can afford to pay for care and is more transformative than merely better wages and benefits. The secret sauce? A new commitment to collaboration, both in the workplace and in public policy.
Opinion | In health care it is not privatization to fear, it’s profitization
In story after story, the crisis in health care and the shortage of health-care workers begs for more money and action. The future of health care in this country does not turn, as premiers would have us believe, on a fight for federal dollars. The emerging drama is a fight for profits in the sector and investors are already quietly winning.
Opinion | In health care it is not privatization to fear, it’s profitization
In story after story, the crisis in health care and the shortage of health-care workers begs for more money and action. The future of health care in this country does not turn, as premiers would have us believe, on a fight for federal dollars. The emerging drama is a fight for profits in the sector and investors are already quietly winning.
Dispelling myths about for-profit health care
An old friend of ours recently confessed to using a private clinic for her cataract surgery. She said that, while she felt guilty, she nonetheless received wonderful care and paid with her health card. When we asked the name of the clinic, she said the Kensington Eye Institute (located on Toronto’s College Street). It is indeed a private clinic that provides vision surgeries for cases considered non-complicated. It has justly received a good reputation.
Opinion: For-profit care is a bad idea that won’t die
By: Pat Armstrong and Marjorie Griffin Cohen Tweet Print Email Save to Read Later Canadian health economist Robert Evans called them zombies: ideas killed long ago by evidence, but re-emerging from the grave, often in disguise. Read this article for free: Email Address: Password: I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Already have an account?
It’s Time to Bury the Private Health Care Zombie
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Why for-profit homes won’t solve long-term care issues: Privatizing health services is a bad idea that just won’t go away
Canada needs to consider the user experience of migrants when designing programs that impact them The first interaction many Canadians have with government services today is digital. Older Canadians turn to the internet to understand how to file for Old Age Security or track down a customer service phone number. Parents visit school district websites for information on school closures, schedules and curricula.
Why for-profit homes won’t solve long-term care issues: Privatizing health services is a bad idea that just won’t go away
Canadian health economist Robert Evans called them zombies: ideas killed long ago by evidence, but re-emerging from the grave — often in disguise. He was talking about user fees for health services. Such fees primarily mean that the poor go without care while the rich may get care they don’t need, but they also add to the bureaucracy required to bill for services. Now the zombie is re-emerging in the form of handing over more publicly funded services to for-profit companies.
Opinion | Here is a health care to-do list for the federal government Original
The major question in the federal/provincial/territorial debate on health care funding should not be on whether there should be conditions but on what these conditions should be. The federal government should set conditions on federal funding, with funding withheld or returned when these conditions are not met.
Opinion | Provinces need to have a plan for health-care funding — or they shouldn’t get the money
Every day brings fresh evidence of profound mismanagement in health care: closing emergency departments, burned-out nurses quitting the profession, fewer Canadians with family doctors, hospitals full of older people with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, premiers want the federal government to ship them another $28 billion for health care, no questions asked — on top of the $45 billion they already get yearly. What’s wrong with this picture? Accountability.
Opinion | Provinces need to have a plan for health-care funding — or they shouldn’t get the money
Every day brings fresh evidence of profound mismanagement in health care: closing emergency departments, burned-out nurses quitting the profession, fewer Canadians with family doctors, hospitals full of older people with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, premiers want the federal government to ship them another $28 billion for health care, no questions asked — on top of the $45 billion they already get yearly. What’s wrong with this picture? Accountability.
The Ontario election campaign produced some surprisingly good ideas for Canada
No big ideas during an election campaign? Au contraire — the Ontario election campaign produced some unexpected and innovative proposals. This doesn’t happen often, mostly because politicians don’t dare to dream. And, as Kim Campbell infamously put it during her brief tenure as prime minister, the election period is too short a time to discuss serious issues.
National Nurses Week: Time to Fix Dire Nursing Shortages
“A bed is just a bed without a nurse to provide care” The crisis in health care in Canada has many dimensions, but the most obvious is the problem with labour shortages. For years, researchers, advocacy groups, and various government commissions identified the need for a national health care labour force strategy. It isn’t as though it is a puzzle about what to do. Ensuring an adequate supply of well-trained labour in any area does not just happen because it is needed – it needs to be planned.
Beyond Mother's Day: Caring for Mothers
Flowers are nice on Mother’s Day but ensuring access to quality care and quality care work would be better. And last much longer. Mothers are primary users of care services and primary providers of care, both paid and unpaid. But Canadian governments at all levels still cling to neo-liberalism and the shop-worn idea that the private marketplace knows best.
Opinion | Too many dangers in promised privatization of care economy Original
Federal Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest is promising a “sea change” for health care by directing more public funds to privately delivered care. In Ontario under Doug Ford this is already happening as his government quietly expands the for-profit share of publicly funded care. Sixteen thousand long-term care beds were recently licensed to for-profit facilities and more are in the works despite the widespread evidence of appalling conditions of work and care in many of these homes.
Our Values Are Showing: Long-Term Care and the Pandemic
Abstract Given our diversity, it is risky to talk about "Canadian values," but this examination of care for older people does reveal some prominent values evident in how we provide care for this population. Identifying eight of these values, this paper argues that these values are being challenged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments Be the first to comment on this!
Mandating care: recommendations for Canada’s new ministerial mandate letters
Many care workers are on the verge of burnout, with ballooning workloads and no significant relief nor improvement to their wages and working conditions on the horizon. Things are likely to get worse during this administration unless the government decides to take seriously the need for a mandate for care.
Leadership for quality in long-term care
Introduction Leadership in Long-Term Care (LTC) organizations is an burgeoning field of research and intervention.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
In long-term care homes, the conditions of work are the conditions of care
By Linda Silas and Pat Armstrong As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
In LTC homes, the conditions of work are the conditions of care
By Linda Silas and Pat Armstrong As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Opinion | In LTC, the conditions of work are the conditions of care
By Linda Silas Pat Armstrong Mon., Aug. 30, 2021timer3 min. read As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
It’s time to make Canadian medicare truly universal
By not providing enough public services, we are pushing those who can afford it into paying for for-profit care. This is yet another reason why we need a new national health strategy. Photo by Luis Melendez/Unsplash. It is no accident that health care is Canada’s best-loved social program, even though it has become increasingly meaner and leaner. But we have failed to learn from its success and have so far fallen short in our efforts to build a universal public system for today.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
Opinion Linda Silas , Pat Armstrong Contributors Saturday, August 21, 2021 As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Opinion | Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors
By Linda SilasContributors Pat Armstrong Sat., Aug. 21, 2021timer3 min. read As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term-care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and that we face significant challenges in funding and staffing for long-term care.
Long-Term Care After the COVID-19 Disaster: 3 Promising Ways to Move Forward
The isolation of long-term care homes to protect residents from COVID-19 revealed how much care was coming from visiting family members. Photo: FG Trade/GettyImages There is no question that COVID-19 has had devastating consequences in long-term care for residents, staff and families. Media provided heart-wrenching stories about conditions in care homes and pictures of residents peering through windows.
Long-term care after the COVID-19 disaster: 3 promising ways to move forward
There is no question that COVID-19 has had devastating consequences in long-term care for residents, staff and families. Media provided heart-wrenching stories about conditions in care homes and pictures of residents peering through windows. Numerous reports have been documenting the factors that contributed to the disaster, identifying once again what needs to change. However, as is often the case in disasters, there are signs of light emerging from the devastation.
We Must Eliminate Profit-Making From Child Care and Elder Care
A pair of sociology experts say profit needs to be removed from elder and child care in order for the two sectors to provide adequate care. Photo: Cecilie_Arcurs/GettyImages Child care and elder care have a great deal in common. They are both considered primarily family responsibilities, justifying low public investment. At an earlier historical moment, both child care and elder care were seen as the responsibility of charitable and benevolent societies.
No more for-profit care for children, elders
Child care and elder care have a great deal in common. They are both considered primarily family responsibilities, justifying low public investment. Child care and elder care have a great deal in common. They are both considered primarily family responsibilities, justifying low public investment. At an earlier historical moment, both child care and elder care were seen as the responsibility of charitable and benevolent societies.
We must eliminate profit-making from child care and elder care
Profits have no place in the care of our children and aging parents and grandparents. (OC Gonzalez/Unsplash) Child care and elder care have a great deal in common. They are both considered primarily family responsibilities, justifying low public investment. At an earlier historical moment, both child care and elder care were seen as the responsibility of charitable and benevolent societies.
We must eliminate profit-making from child care and elder care
Child care and elder care have a great deal in common. They are both considered primarily family responsibilities, justifying low public investment. At an earlier historical moment, both child care and elder care were seen as the responsibility of charitable and benevolent societies.
Smart regulations for long-term care would focus on helping the workforce
By Pat Armstrong — Policy Options — May 17 2021 Although vaccinations have dramatically reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths among long-term care (LTC) home residents during the pandemic’s third wave, the main danger going forward for Canada’s frail older adults is that the lessons learned from this crisis will not lead to the major reforms.
Smart regulations for long-term care would focus on helping the workforce
Although vaccinations have dramatically reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths among long-term care (LTC) home residents during the pandemic’s third wave, the main danger going forward for Canada’s frail older adults is that the lessons learned from this crisis will not lead to the major reforms. These lessons are not new to policy-makers – they’ve been documented in countless public commissions and research studies before the pandemic – but very little has been done to act on them.
Paul Polman: individual courage and leadership are missing pieces in shaping new economy
Leadership and “individual courage” are the crucial missing pieces in overcoming climate change and global poverty, according to the influential former boss of Unilever. Paul Polman, who was CEO at the consumer goods giant from 2009 until 2019, said the “stars [were] aligned” more than ever now, with citizens, investors and governments – including the new US administration – all ready to back a better, greener economy. What was now missing, “above anything else”, he said, was leadership.
Opinion | When it comes to long-term care, the personal is political
In the wake of COVID-19, we need to recognize that our understanding of both care work and of older women, has created a health system that disproportionately disadvantages women. By Pat ArmstrongContributors Paula Rochon Mon., Feb. 22, 2021timer2 min. read In long-term care, the majority of those who seek care and those who provide care, are women. It is women, many of whom are racialized and/or newcomers, who spend their professional and personal lives caring for others.
Opinion: Enough squabbling, it’s time for provincial leaders to embrace national standards for long-term care
Opinion: National standards would allow us to build a system delivered by public and non-profit providers that puts the needs of seniors and those who care for them first, not profits. Author of the article: Pat Armstrong • Marcy Cohen and Shannon Daub Publishing date: Jan 15, 2021 • January 15, 2021 • 3 minute read The crisis in Canada’s long-term care homes provides an opportunity to develop a national strategy for care that values seniors and those who provide their paid and unpaid care.
Opinion: Enough squabbling, it’s time for provincial leaders to embrace national standards for long-term care
Opinion: National standards would allow us to build a system delivered by public and non-profit providers that puts the needs of seniors and those who care for them first, not profits. Author of the article: Pat Armstrong • Marcy Cohen and Shannon Daub Publishing date: Jan 15, 2021 • January 15, 2021 • 3 minute read The crisis in Canada’s long-term care homes provides an opportunity to develop a national strategy for care that values seniors and those who provide their paid and unpaid care.
What federal leadership on long-term care standards should look like
Home Page News Opinion Foreign Policy Politics Policy Legislation Lobbying Hill Life & People Hill Climbers Heard On The Hill Calendar Archives Classifieds Hill Times Events Inside Ottawa Directory Hill Times Store Hill Times Careers The Wire Report The Lobby Monitor Parliament Now Subscribe Free Trial Reuse & Permissions Advertising FAQ Log In By Pat Armstrong and Marcy Cohen November 23, 2020 Now is not the time for scoring political points over jurisdiction.
COVID-19 in long-term care homes in Ontario and British Columbia
Analysis Michael Liu, Colleen J. Maxwell, Pat Armstrong, Michael Schwandt, Andrea Moser, Margaret J. McGregor, Susan E. Bronskill and Irfan A. Dhalla CMAJ November 23, 2020 192 (47) E1540-E1546; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.201860 KEY POINTS Many more residents living in Ontario long-term care homes have died from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than in British Columbia.
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