Absolutely right, BCRacer, older men/women suffer or die early because some doctors do not believe in preventive medicine and an early screening process.
I always wondered why so many older people die of cancer when most cancers can be successfully treated if detected early.

I told my doctor that he is in charge of my health when he took me on as a patient. I want him to check my prostate at regular intervals. I want him to refer me to a specialist for a colonoscopy when I am fifty and thereafter. I want him to send me to a lab for blood tests and ECGs to oversee my health. I want him to keep track of symptoms, analyze them and refer me to specialists when necessary.

I do not want to beg for these services and I do not want to spit blood before being taken seriously. I do not want to repeat myself every time I go to my doctor while he shuffles through my file and then being told my time is up “I have patients waiting”.
I will go for my yearly checkups, but I do not want to be given a clean bill of health for my age, only to be diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer three month later when a swelling in the neck is followed up. (Happened to a friend, non smoker, not overweight, hitting the gym regularly, health wise, yearly checkups.)

I want doctors to be responsible, educated in early disease detection, being able to track symptoms to the source of illness, refer patients (especially the elderly) without hesitation to specialists and, in short, treat every patient as if he/she did not only have the “flu”.

I see this consultation drive by Northern Health as is a waste of money that could be funneled into providing better health care.

Northern Health should have all health-related statistics on hand. They should know the rate and cause of death in the elderly. If lung cancer is one, then, maybe, the cause could be our bad air quality or the radon gas in our soil. Northern Health should then be pro-active and promoting early screening and provide scans at a reasonable wait time.

If Northern Health feels the need of consultation regarding the health of the elderly, maybe it should be with our family physicians and discuss my concerns outlined earlier.

My parents use to say when you have grey hair you are invisible but at least their city had good programs for seniors. PG is not a good place for seniors compared to other cities and when we do have good programs they get cut back because of lack of money. Seniors are considered a drain on society.

“Seniors are considered a drain on society.”

According to the Canadian Geriatrics Society, there are only 216 geriatricians in Canada (only six qualified this year) and few work full time in the specialty: many also have commitments in general medicine.

There are about 2,300 practicing paediatricians in all of Canada.

That kind of says it all.

Problem is, we know what we need. More home care options for people who want to stay at hme longer. A push for housing that is accessible such as nostep entry and wider doors and usable bathrooms. a recognition that waiting six months to get home care started is not ok. More long term care spaces for those whose cant stay at home. Respite for unpaid caregivers. focus on prevention where possible. better communitcation with doctors and between drs and others medical professionals.

I dont see a will to follow through with these things.