Heather May attended Lakelands Public Health’s town hall in Minden April 14 out of concern for seniors.
“I’ve worked with seniors as a professional and we have a community that is becoming more and more senior and we need to adapt to them, instead of adapting to how we are going to make more money, or take care of the budget, or whatever,” May said.
“We need to look at the fact people who are paying taxes in this community are seniors and they need things, and some of the things they need they are not going to be able to get and someone has to push for them.”
After initial remarks by medical officer of health, Dr. Thomas Piggott, and Highlands East deputy mayor and County coun. Cec Ryall – who is vice chair of the public health board – attendees could go to various stations highlighting different health unit services.
May had questions, saying, “I wanted to know how we can fill in some of the gaps for seniors. Some of the gaps are so obvious.” She does not think the health unit is addressing the topic of senior care to its full capacity.
May was just one member of the general public who came out for the town hall hosted by the just over a year-old Lakelands Public Health, which has come about from a merger of the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health.
Ryall said they were beginning to develop the health unit’s strategic plan. “We came here to listen, to learn, and to ensure that the future of public health reflects the needs, priorities and aspirations of the people in the communities we serve.”
Piggott said he wanted folks to think about the health of residents of Haliburton County for years to come. “Because we really have an opportunity, as we’re thinking about the strategic plan, to think about the future of health in this region, beyond just months and years, to generations ahead.”
He added the health unit is asking itself “who are we; where do we come from; why are we here, and where are we going?”
Piggott discussed the programs the health unit offers, ranging from infants to seniors, such as public health inspections at restaurants, managing health outbreaks, immunization, school-based early childhood development, substance use and injury prevention, chronic disease prevention, and emergency management.
He noted $100 on average per capita of people’s taxes goes to public health. With inflation, he said funding to health units is down over the past decade. He noted there is more spending in Ontario on treating disease, than prevention. Piggott believes an ounce of prevention is indeed a pound of cure. He talked about the aging demographic in the region, saying a larger portion of the population will be sicker.; and people living in poverty experience more health issues. Residents were also encouraged to complete a survey that can be found at https://www.lakelandsph.ca
