Stephen McNeil’s vision for seniors

Annapolis MLA and Liberal leadership candidate Stephen McNeil has a vision for seniors and seniors’ programs in Nova Scotia.

“There are certain core fundamental values that will guide the policy and programs of the Liberal Party under my leadership,” said McNeil. “These values include dignity, respect, self-esteem, fairness, and compassion.”

McNeil said his record of championing fairness and respect for seniors in Nova Scotia speaks for itself. In 2005, under McNeil’s leadership, $1 million was returned to seniors under Pharmacare. Many seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement were reimbursed after paying premiums unfairly collected by the province.

“I was pleased to lead that campaign on behalf of low income seniors,” said McNeil. “Seniors were not being treated with the respect they deserved and something needed to be done.”

McNeil said there are creative solutions for the problems facing seniors and their families. He promotes the development of a self-managed care program for seniors and the implementation of a Senior Home Medication Review.

A self-managed care program, modeled after the Self-managed Care Program for Persons with Disabilities, would provide qualifying seniors with a monthly sum to assist in providing support for personal health care costs.

“Future programs for seniors must result in a better quality of life and allow seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible,” added McNeil.

In July of 2006, McNeil tabled a Private Member’s Bill that provided a framework for the development of a Senior Home Medication Review process. Modeled after a program in Australia, this review process would see seniors’ medications reviewed annually by a health care professional, at no cost to the senior.

“Medication related problems and negative drug interactions cause many unnecessary hospitalizations and can contribute to death,” McNeil said. “We need this kind of common sense program to ensure a better quality of life and, at the same time, reduce both stress and costs to our health care system.”

“I want to lead a Liberal Party that not only treats our seniors with respect, but also improves their quality of life,” said McNeil.