Alberta Health

Alberta health-care workers say they’re demoralized, exhausted as patient surge looms this fall

AHS warns of ‘further capacity challenges,’ saying it’s taking steps to ensure patients get ‘care they need’ Health-care workers are being warned to prepare for an influx of patients during the coming … READ MORE

Expedium Orthopaedics

Alberta’s Premier Orthopaedic Care Center Rethinking the way healthcare is delivered in Alberta. One way to reduce the muscle tone is to inject botuline toxine, better known as botox, in the children’s muscles. This enables … READ MORE

Ombudsman says Alberta government must fix unfair rules for disability benefit applicants

Outdated rules have remained unchanged for a decade. Alberta Ombudsman Kevin Brezinski said the government’s Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program must reconsider a 21-year-old man’s application for … READ MORE

‘Not enough’: Experts say maximum AISH benefit still puts recipients below poverty line

Alberta’s income support program for people with a disability is below the poverty line and not providing Albertans with a living wage, experts said. Community, Seniors and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon. Photo by Greg … READ MORE

Alberta parents of children with disabilities say they’re running out of daycare options

‘At some point will one of us have to just stop working because we don’t have an option?’ Some Alberta parents of children with disabilities say their daycare options are limited. CBC/Radio-Canada Emily Rae Pasiuk, … READ MORE

Makeshift dividers, hallway medicine are signs of a system in crisis, say Alberta front-line staff

AHS says province’s 16 largest hospitals had 423 overcapacity beds as of September. Alberta’s hospitals rely on so-called ‘overcapacity beds’ to deal with patient demand. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press … READ MORE

AISH caseloads have ballooned over the past decade. What’s driving that?

Albertans receiving Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped up 57% The steady rise in people receiving benefits through the province’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program hit 75,554 in October. CBC Elise … READ MORE

AISH recipients form grassroots group to raise awareness, dispel myths around the program

“We’re fighting to be recognized as autonomous human beings that deserve dignity,” advocate says. Janet Nass and Thomas Cheesman are two members of the newly formed group, AISH Recipients In Search of Equity (ARISE). … READ MORE

Why mask mandates are lifting in hospitals across Canada

Most provinces will no longer require masks in hospitals — but that could change if COVID levels worsen. Watch | COVID-19 mask mandates dropped in more hospitals. The majority of health-care facilities in Canada have dropped … READ MORE

Alberta parents can call Health Link with questions about their child’s development

811 now offers parents guidance about kids’ milestones. Health Link 811 is now offering a pediatric rehabilitation line, providing free advice and guidance. Robert Short CBC. CBC News Calgary March 17, 2023 A new service has been … READ MORE

Alberta, Ottawa sign health-care funding deal worth $24B over 10 years

‘This is a productive first step,’ Premier Danielle Smith says of agreement. Alberta has become the seventh province to sign an agreement in principle with Ottawa on health-care funding. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and … READ MORE

Some parents are leaving Ontario because of frustrations with its autism program

Province has stopped providing updates on progress to enroll children in core services. Hundreds of parents, therapists and union members gather outside Queen’s Park, in Toronto on March 7, 2019, to protest the provincial … READ MORE

Alberta Health redirects thousands of orthopedic surgeries to independent clinics to tackle backlog

Publicly funded hip, knee surgeries will be done at chartered health-care facility. ‘This is public healthcare,’ says Alberta Minister of Health, Jason Copping. ‘We know we need to increase our capacity because … READ MORE

At least 2,095 Albertans died of COVID in 2022, roughly matching the death toll from 2021

Year marked by arrival of Omicron variant, removal of nearly all public health restrictions. Health-care workers attend to a ICU COVID-19 patient at Peter Lougheed Centre in this file photo. Leah Hennel, Alberta Health Services. CBC … READ MORE

Alberta government to re-index AISH, seniors benefits to inflation

People like Mary Salvani, who rely on AISH benefits to cover their basic expenses, have had their benefits frozen for the past three years while the cost of living rose substantially. Monty Kruger CBC

Critics say the move won’t help people living in poverty catch up with rising costs. People like Mary Salvani, who rely on AISH benefits to cover their basic expenses, have had their benefits frozen for the past three years … READ MORE

Children with disabilities getting inconsistent government support, Alberta auditor general finds

Only 1 in 5 staff had completed all of their mandatory training, report says. Auditor General Doug Wylie has found inconsistencies with a program that helps families with the costs of raising and caring for children with disabilities. … READ MORE

Alberta government’s failure means we must protect ourselves

It has become clear that the Alberta government has given up on its role to protect us from the acute and long-term risks of COVID-19. “Everyone will get it” seems to be the mantra of the day. This defeatist ethos is a … READ MORE

Albertans in pain look elsewhere for treatment, as COVID surgery delays compound wait times

‘We’re in a bad place, to be honest,’ says orthopedic surgeon at Red Deer hospital. Alberta cancelled all elective surgeries during the fourth wave as the province’s intensive care units filled up with very … READ MORE

New report raises critical issues around disability rights in Alberta

13 advocates, known as Radical Inclusion, compiled report for U.N. committee. Roxanne Ulanicki is the lead facilitator of the Radical Inclusion report that was submitted to the United Nations on Tuesday. Submitted by Roxanne Ulanicki … READ MORE

Appeal dismissal puts Alberta young adults transitioning out of government care in limbo

Alberta government says recipients losing benefits are eligible for extension. Lawyer Avnish Nanda says the government is putting hundreds of marginalized young adults at a greater risk by losing the person who most closely resembles … READ MORE

Alberta urged to reconsider cutting off hundreds of young adults from financial support

Province says young Albertans leaving program will be set up with right support. A current and former government employee in Children’s Services say adult programs don’t meet the complex needs of young adults transitioning … READ MORE

Government-run homes for disabled Albertans will not be privatized

Families express relief and joy at decision to maintain status quo. Brenda Waluk holds the hand of her granddaughter Taelyr in the back garden of Rosecrest Home in Edmonton during a visit last summer. Trevor Wilson CBC Michelle … READ MORE

AISH date change made to make finances look better, auditor general says

‘It was done on the backs of disabled Albertans,’ opposition critic Marie Renaud says. Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney repeatedly told the legislature the benefit dates were changed to provide more … READ MORE

MLA’s AISH experiment likely won’t change government’s mind, advocates say

St. Albert NDP MLA Marie Renaud has vowed to live on $1,685 in October. NDP MLA Marie Renaud is spending October living on $1,685, the amount a single person on AISH receives each month. CBC Michelle Bellefontaine, CBC News … READ MORE

Leave AISH payments alone, Opposition and advocates tell Alberta government

Government hasn’t ruled out a program cut. Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney should reassure AISH recipients their payments will not be cut. A report suggests the … READ MORE

UCP government changes application process for AISH

Applicants must first prove medical condition to determine eligibility. The Alberta government has now prioritized medical criteria ahead of income and asset tests for people who apply for AISH, an income support program for people … READ MORE

Calgary mother worries some disabled Albertans are being overlooked during pandemic

Alberta’s single site restriction doesn’t apply to health-care aides working in people’s homes. Laverne Bissky and her husband made the decision years ago to take care of their 24-year-old daughter Kasenya Bissky, … READ MORE

In Canada, Albertans wary of ‘big brother’ with use of COVID-19 digital-tracing app

More users needed: Lessons from Alberta’s coronavirus contact tracing app. Alberta released its contact tracing app, ABTraceTogether, last week. But early uptake figures and a key design quirk show how challenging it will be for … READ MORE

Injunction stops hundreds of young adults from losing benefits as they transition from care

Young mother challenged amendment set to take effect April 1. A.C. has been granted a court injunction delaying a change in legislation that would have lowered the age of eligibility for the SFAA program to 22. Trevor Wilson CBC … READ MORE

It can be very taxing on families: New study reflects unmet needs of Canadian caregivers

1 in 4 Canadians provide care to a family member or friend – StatsCan report. Of those surveyed by Statistics Canada for a report released in January 2020, nearly 70 per cent of caregivers who had received some type of support … READ MORE

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