Adult day services in 100 Mile House are being reduced.

Peter Swann, one of the workers in that program, says there’s a 30 per cent cut in the program, which has gone from five employees to two since Interior Health (IH) took over hospital administration.

The Adult Day Services offers personal care services, including bathing, therapeutic recreation programs, social activities, caregiver respite, education and support to people still living at home.

Swann says the cuts will be directly reflected in services they’re able to provide to the community.

“This is supposed to be standardization across the board, but instead of levelling up they’re levelling down.”

However, Claire Ann Brodie, IH program administrator for home and community care and acute care for the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap health services area, says adult day

services across her

service area have been reviewed and changes have been made to ensure at least 80 per cent usage of the program to maximize staff time and

ensure safe staffing.

Brodie says the program has not been maximized during the past six years and the reductions are the result of reduced need in 100 Mile House due to a number of factors. The assisted living

facility at Carefree Manor took in a lot of clients who used to access adult

day services, she

says, adding that new beds being built at Fischer Place/Mill Site Lodge will accommodate more of those clients.

Brodie notes there is a trend among 100 Mile House seniors, who need services, to move back to a larger centre and, perhaps, closer to family.

She insists there is the possibility of a 15 to 20 per cent increase in the service if there is a need.

Swann says home support is also being cut, but Brodie explains IH follows the Ministry of Health criteria and assesses each case individually.

Home support offers personal care, respite and “delegation of tasks” that includes things such as bathing or administering medication.

However, Brodie says home support was never meant to cover housekeeping tasks, such as washing windows. It is for health reasons only, she adds.

“100 Mile House has the entire spectrum of services; the same as a larger centre like Kamloops, so people can remain in their communities as long as they can.”

That spectrum includes home nursing, long term care, meals, adult day services, assisted living and residential living.

If people have concerns about the level of care they are receiving, Brodie says they should speak with the manager on site.

However, Barb Matfin, 100 Mile House Hospital Employees Union chair, questions Interior Health’s reasoning.

She calls this a big cutback and says if the program isn’t used to full capacity, could it be because the community doesn’t even know the program exists.

“Does Interior Health even advertise the program is available?”

Matfin claims IH will do anything to balance its budget and, unfortunately, it’s programs for

the elderly that are suffering.