All About Alberta Long Term CareThe essence of Alberta long term care as outlined by the Ministry of Health and Wellness involves using or promoting "healthy aging" to define and focus all of its long term care goals and objectives. As such Alberta long term care involves the cooperation of all social sectors with the health system such as all related government departments, private and public agencies, voluntary or professional associations and the general public, in order to accomplish these goals. Alberta long term care through the cooperation and initiative of these different sectors and groups is also tasked to develop strategies that will address a holistic approach towards healthy aging for elder citizens. Such an approach will consider relevant issues on not just expanding present long term care services, but consider future needs and requirements as well. Alberta long term care recognizes that to adequately meet the needs and demands of an aging population requires being responsive to changing attitudes and philosophies in the delivery of such services. But most importantly, Alberta long term care stresses strongly on fulfilling the unquantifiable requirement of doing all these with generosity and genuine compassion and not just based on social or government obligation. As such, one can say that to age in Alberta is definitely something to be hopeful about. Alberta long term care encapsulates the above mentioned objectives and other implementing goals in a comprehensive plan that was borne out of a 48-month comprehensive review of Albertan health care needs. The committee that was tasked to do the review consulted with the people of Alberta, reviewed present policies and guidelines on health care, studied trends and considered related alternatives. The purpose was to accurately gauge the impact of Alberta's aging population and to strengthen if not further develop Alberta long term care goals and systems to take care of this aging population. Aside from the guiding principles that continue to be at the core of Alberta long term care goals, the plan further aims to expand access to information and resources that will offer aging citizens a variety of options with regards to health. There will also be greater emphasis on a strengthened network of support among family, friends and the greater community at large. Alberta long term care goals will also employ strategies to decrease incidences of injury and an approach to illness based on preventive rather than reactive methods. More access to information as well as awareness campaigns to make Albertans more conscious of the demands and rigors of handling chronic and high-maintenance diseases and conditions. Long term care goals will also be fine-tuned to be more patient if not more accommodating of patient rights as to how long term care services should be applied. Emphasis is made on greater communication among all the persons involved to ensure that the patient's needs are top priority. Immediate concerns of the plan also aim to address the quality of present long term care services, ensuring that patient needs and requirements are not only satisfactorily met, but given the attention and promptness it deserves. |