颐康中心创办人王裕佳医生及董事会主席黄美好最近联名致函各大政党及代表士嘉堡、万锦和密西沙加颐康所属选区的候选人，希望各政党和候选人以长者服务作议题，优先考虑长者的需要。
王裕佳医生和黄美好说，作为加拿大配合文化需要、最具规模的非牟利服务机构之一的颐康中心，一直致力发展适合不同文化及语言的服务和项目, 以配合华人长者在健康、社交和文化方面的需求。与此同时，颐康中心亦不遗馀力，为南亚裔、菲律宾及日裔长者提供长期护理服务。颐康每日提供的服务, 令大多伦多地区三千多名长者受惠。
他们在信中说﹕「加拿大目前要面对的挑战是人口老化, 随着长者人数急剧上升，对健康服务的需求比以往高出三倍，对整个健康体制构成压力。这次联邦大选正好提供一个平台，让各候选人在长者服务议题上发表各自的意见，同时让民众就他们的政纲投票。」
颐康在大多伦多设有四间长期护理中心，服务社区逾二十年。颐康中心相信，联邦政府和省政府应该把资源投放于推广健康的重要性，以及教导长者如何预防疾病及意外，从而减轻对健康体制的负荷。
「 将资源用于优先项目，如为健康长者及需要协助长者提供住屋和各种各样的家居及社区支援服务，将有助舒缓长者对急性和长期病患服务的需求。」王裕佳医生和黄美丽在信中说。
Dear Sir/Madam,
RE: PRIORITIZING SENIORS CARE
I am writing on behalf of Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Canada’s largest non-profit provider of culturally appropriate services. We enable seniors to live their lives to the fullest – in the healthiest, most independent and dignified ways.
Since 1994, we have been at the forefront of developing services and programs that meet the health, social and cultural needs of primarily Chinese seniors. In addition, we provide residential long-term care to South-Asian, Filipino and Japanese seniors. On a daily basis, Yee Hong touches the lives of over 3,000 people across the GTA. Our services include:
- Four Long-Term Care Homes with a total of 805 beds in Scarborough (2), Markham and Mississauga
- Housing services provided to 438 units at two locations, Aw Chan Kam Chee Evergreen Manor and Yee Hong Garden Terrace
- A range of community programs and services for seniors, including day programs, meal services, transportation services, friendly visits and personal in-home care support, serving 12,000 seniors annually
- Support and resource services to families with elderly members, including supportive counselling, education sessions on various topics, group and social activities, and educational publications reaching over 35,000 readers on a weekly basis.
With the general election campaign currently underway, we would like to use this opportunity to draw your party’s and your attention to the need to prioritize seniors care as part of the national conversation. Canadian society is facing a great challenge now and into the future as our seniors’ population, who consume three times the health services of the general population, continues to grow at a rapid pace. This election presents an excellent opportunity for candidates such as yourself to contribute to this discussion through your public comments and statements.
From our experience, we believe the best way to meet these challenges is head-on, through substantial public investments in health promotion and preventative care for seniors. Making investments in priority areas such as housing, both independent and assisted, and a full range of well-coordinated, better-funded community and in-home services will go a long way in reducing the demand for much more costly acute and chronic health care.
We at Yee Hong look forward to working with you and your party to address this important issue. We would be pleased to meet with you and share Yee Hong’s perspective on how intelligent policymaking can better address the needs of Canada’s growing senior population.
Corinne Wong Dr. Joseph Y. K. Wong
Chair, Board of Directors Chair, Board of Directors
Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation
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