Dr. Marita O'Brien:

It is something like the National Purchase Treatment Fund. It is the same thinking in that people do not think that by providing the service within the care system that in the end that probably prevents escalating costs. Home help services have been reduced in most areas. Previously, a home help would assist someone who had personal care needs but some would also help them prepare a hot meal or help them with essential domestic tasks but they are not allowed do that now. In many areas all one can get is personal care. As one social worker told us, we can wash the older person but we cannot feed them. Thirty minutes to help someone shower once a week does not make sense. It is done on certain days so on Monday and Wednesday they will get a shower. God help them if they need a shower on the days in between because they will not get it. Over Christmas the home helps are on two weeks holidays so the people do not get any help with showering. Simple tasks like that are not that costly when one thinks about it.