N.B. is 'canary in the coal mine' when it comes to seniors care

The Canadian Medical Association plans to use New Brunswick as the launchpad for its push for a national seniors strategy and will hold a seniors roundtable in Fredericton this fall, during the federal election campaign.

Dr. Chris Simpson, the CMA's president, who is from Nackawic, says New Brunswick is "the canary in the coal mine" for what will happen in other provinces, as it struggles to meet the needs of the growing number of seniors.

"New Brunswick may be heading into a perfect demographic storm because of its aging population and as we learned recently, its shrinking population," said Simpson.

New Brunswick is currently tied with Nova Scotia for having the oldest population in the country, with 18.3 per cent above the age of 65, according to the association.

By comparison, the national average is 14.6 per cent.

But it is projected that most of Canada will be in the same situation as New Brunswick within a few years, said Simpson, who made the roundtable announcement Monday in Fredericton, along with members of the New Brunswick Medical Society.

"New Brunswick happens to have the misfortune of being first in a national crisis. It's a harbinger of what could come to other provinces," he said.

For example, more than a quarter of all hospital beds in New Brunswick are occupied by patients who do not medically need to be there and are waiting for a more appropriate place to continue their care.

"Fixing seniors' care here in New Brunswick will go a long way to helping the entire country," said Simpson.

On Sept. 22, dozens of health advocates, provider organizations, and patient representatives will gather to discuss topics, such as defining the scope of the challenge, what provincial organizations can offer for solutions, and the need for a National Seniors Strategy.

Doctors have also invited all three levels of government to be at the table.

The roundtable is being held just weeks before the provincial government's summit on the "issues and opportunities related to alternate levels of care."

That summit is slated for Oct. 7 in Moncton.