AUPE to launch Alberta Hospital Edmonton petition at Grandparents Day Picnic
EDMONTON – Over 1,000 people are expected at the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ annual Grandparents Day picnic to draw Albertans’ attention to serious shortcomings in long-term care. The picnic takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm Sept. 10, 2009, on the south grounds of the Alberta Legislature.
AUPE will be launching a petition at this year’s picnic to save acute mental health beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, including beds dedicated to geriatric patients.
“Alberta’s government is looking at seniors’ care strictly in terms of cost,” said Sandra Azocar, chair of the AUPE Women’s Committee which organizes the event.
“The Vision 2020 plan that they released last December shows that they have no intention of increasing the number of publicly funded long-term care beds in the province,” she said
AUPE President Doug Knight will speak at the event, which will also draw activists from other unions and a number of MLAs.
Knight said he was gravely concerned by reports that geriatric mental health care beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton were on the government chopping block.
“Families in Alberta can’t afford to lose the specialized, expert care and guidance provided by the physicians and staff at Alberta Hospital Edmonton. When mental health issues affect an aging loved one, top quality psychiatric care can give them back months or years of life that otherwise would have been lost,” said Knight.
As in past years, the picnic will take place near the band shell on the south grounds of the Alberta Legislature, with a free barbeque and refreshments offered.
All members of the public are welcome to attend.
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For more information contact:
Doug Knight, President, AUPE – 780-930-3301 or 780-265-6655 (cellular)
Sandra Azocar, Vice-President, AUPE – 780-906-6884 (cellular)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE – 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943