The following letter was submitted to The Toronto Star in response to an article by health reporter, Theresa Boyle:  

Dear Editor:  

Our hearts go out to Craig Lindsay, a family-giver who regrets his mother did not die at home as she had wished.  Unfortunately, as Health Quality Ontario reports, we are going in the wrong direction.  In the near future more seniors will be fated to die in hospitals and old-age institutions rather than at home because we have not prepared for the coming silver tsunami.

According to StatsCan, almost 10 million Canadians were born between 1946 and 1965, so a huge wave of seniors will hit Canada in 2026 when the oldest boomers reach eighty.  After initial impact, the tsunami will flood the social landscape until it crests, and as it ebbs the debris will bring more havoc as caregivers burn out, drown in despair, and become ill themselves. 

From beginning to end, the senior tsunami will put our society, health system, and family caregivers like Lindsay under huge pressures.  And since boomers had fewer children than their parents, there will be fewer family caregivers for them.  We might prefer home care, but many of us are fated to live in isolation, get hallway medicine, occupy long-term beds, or resign ourselves to residential care. 

To lessen the tsunami's impact, we must act collectively.  Therefore, a petition was launched early this year urging Ottawa to prepare for Canada's aging population.  Ministers replied by listing the many programs government funds at great expense, but ignored the need to develop a national plan (after all, they say, health care is a provincial responsibility!).  However, Ottawa's inaction contrasts sharply with Washington's passage of the U.S. Caregivers Act this year, and Canada has yet to step up.

With a federal election around the corner, we have a chance to demand action without delay.  Let's ask candidates where they stand and insist that they make our aging population a top priority.  Let's join the 32,000 who have signed the petition (search for "SOS" at CHANGE.ORG), and demand a national plan now.

The photo below is accompanied by the following information:

Craig Lindsay displays a 2007 photograph of his mother Lois and his son Spencer. Lindsay, a retired paramedic, was caregiver to his mother as she was dying of cancer six years ago. Stresses within the health system are resulting in increased pressure on caregivers, according to a new report. (ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE / TORONTO STAR).