Alberta Health care coverage extended for snowbirds

Albertans in who head off to find the sun winter can now extend their stay an extra month while maintaining health care coverage. 

Associate Minister of Seniors, Dave Quest, announced the change this morning at Calgary International Airport.

Snowbirds and other long-term vacationers can now be out of Alberta up to 212 days (seven months) a year while keeping their eligibility for Alberta health care insurance coverage. This is a 30-day increase from the previous 182-day limit (six months).

“We want Albertans to have the flexibility to go on extended vacations while having the peace of mind that their health care coverage is there for them if they need it,” said Quest.

Increasing the amount of time longer-term vacationers are permitted out of the province allows Alberta residents to remain eligible for health coverage as long as they have not established permanent residence elsewhere.  

The increase brings Alberta into line with other Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba. Newfoundlanders remain eligible for coverage for 240 days.

The new policy comes into effect immediately, and includes travelers who are already outside of the province.

“This is welcome news for our members who told us they wanted the option to visit other countries for several months at a time, without sacrificing their health care coverage,” said Michael MacKenzie, executive director of the Canadian Snowbird Association.

“Extending coverage for an extra month gives travelers more flexibility.” 

Albertans who plan to be out of the province for extended periods need to contact Alberta Health each year before leaving, to ensure their health care coverage remains current.

New Alberta seniors minister appointed in cabinet shuffle

Dave Quest is Alberta’s new associate minister of seniors.

Quest, aged 50, was named to the position by Premier Alison Redford in a December 6 cabinet reshuffle.

He was elected MLA for Strathcona-Sherwood Park in the 2008 general election and again in 2012. This is his first ministerial appointment.

Quest succeeds George VanderBurg as associate minister of seniors. VanderBurg had been in the post since May 2012, having previously been minister of seniors until the seniors department was abolished at that time. His new job is as government whip in the legislature.

The associate minister of seniors reports to the minister of health, and is mandated to assist the minister to carry out health responsibilities related to seniors.

The associate minister also leads the health ministry's programs and initiatives related to seniors. These include the seniors advocate; seniors housing; seniors property tax deferral program; elder abuse strategy; and $500 seniors activity tax credit.

Before becoming an MLA Quest was president of Kallal Pontiac in Tofield, and then general sales manager and a minority shareholder of Beaverhill GMC in Tofield and Petersen Pontiac in Sherwood Park.

He graduated from NAIT in 1985 with a business administration diploma with a major in marketing management. He then served with the Better Business Bureau of Northern Alberta for 10 years in various roles, including director, chair and director of the Canadian Council.

As an MLA, Quest has been involved in numerous committees and other public bodies. Most recently these include the standing committee on families and communities, the legislative review committee, the standing committee on public accounts, special standing committee on members´ services.

In addition, he is the Alberta government´s representative on the board of directors of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance, the Council of State Governments-WEST and Northlands.

He has also carried Bill 12, Body Armour Control Act, 2010; Bill 46, the Gunshot and Stab Wound Mandatory Disclosure Act, 2009; and Bill 60, the Health Professions Amendment Act, 2009; and most recently Bill 201, Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Identification Act, through the legislative process.

Quest lives in Sherwood Park with has wife Fiona and son Jack. Sports are a major interest and he has a private pilot’s licence.

FOIP order is part of struggle for access to parents

Earlier this year Shauna McHarg enjoyed a victory in what has been a long struggle.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner ordered Covenant Health to disclose information about why her visiting privileges had been restricted and she had been banned from their premises.

McHarg’s mother Helen, who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease, and father Ron are residents on separate wards at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre.

The McHargs have been residents at the General since early 2010, after a period at Alberta Hospital.

In the weeks following their arrival Covenant Health imposed visitation conditions on the family, but during in April 2010 and October 2011 more restrictive conditions were placed on Shauna alone.

“I am allowed to see my mom for one hour, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday,” McHarg said in an interview.

She has been banned on occasion from visiting her mother and father for supposedly “breaching the security and safety of the residents.”

A further ban came in March 2012, according to McHarg, when seniors health vice-president Al Pierog told her she was permanently forbidden from visiting friends she’d made among the residents, including the late Beverley Munro, who had been vocal about her own complaints against the facility.

She was informed that she would be charged with trespassing and permanently barred from visiting her mother and father if found meeting with them on Edmonton General property.

In response, McHarg began a long and complicated effort to gain more access to her parents. She dealt initially with Covenant Health management figures, who upheld the restrictions against her, but would not tell what they were based on, citing privacy concerns.

She later sought help from the health minister, the Alberta ombudsman, the Health Quality Council of Alberta and the Alberta Health Services patient concerns officer, without any action forthcoming. Ruth Adria of the Elder Advocates of Alberta provided assistance.

In April 2011, McHarg made a Freedom of Information and Privacy (FOIP) request for her personal information from Covenant Health to find out why she was being banned from its premises and having restrictions imposed on her visiting privileges.

“I should be able to find out why I was banned and why do I have restrictions,” she said. “It’s very important for the decision to be justified.”

Covenant Health provided some documents in response to the request, but withheld other information.

Following an appeal by McHarg, an adjudicator with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner ordered Covenant Health to provide further information to her. The decision was announced in an October 25 release.

At the end of November, she was informed that a similar decision had been reached in a FOIP request to Alberta Health Services for information it has on the matter.

Meanwhile, however, Covenant Health is disputing the adjudicator’s decision and applied for a judicial review by the Court of Queen’s Bench, which is scheduled for February 27-28.

“My goal is to see my parents,” said McHarg. “Despite following the process I’ve been told to follow and spending three years doing it, there’s no solution. It doesn’t seem like Covenant Health is very accountable to anyone.”

Government of Canada provides caregiving info online

A new online source of seniors’ caregiving information has been launched by the Government of Canada.

Alice Wong, minister of state (seniors), today announced today the launch of the caregivers portal on seniors.gc.ca, a government website functioning as a central source of information for seniors, their families and caregivers.

The new Information for Caregivers portal provides an interactive map of Canada directing users to federal, provincial and some municipal resources on financial information, care options, powers of attorney, health, mental health and dementia.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping seniors quickly access information about programs and services they need and use in their communities,” said Wong. "That is why today we are launching the new Information for Caregivers portal on seniors.gc.ca.”

"CARP members will welcome the new Information for Caregivers portal,” said Susan Eng, the organization’s vice-president for advocacy. “It will help families navigate the complex array of government programs and services at all levels. It is comprehensive and user-friendly, which will come as a great relief to people who are often running from pillar to post to get the help they need for themselves or their loved ones."

The website also provides information on government initiatives such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program -- which supports projects led or inspired by seniors who want to make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities -- and measures to increase awareness of elder abuse are also included on the site.

For more information go to seniors.gc.ca.