People with drug addictions living in BC long-term care homes raises red flags

People who have suffered severe brain injuries as a result of B.C.'s ongoing illicit drug crisis are being cared for in long-term care facilities, straining the abilities of staff who are more used to dealing with elderly patients than younger drug-addicted people.

“But what we’re seeing is a different population now more affected by drug use,” Terry Lake, the CEO of the B.C. Care Providers Association, said.

“Brain injury due to chronic drug use. And there’s no other place in some communities for these folks to be placed. And so that is a difference we’re seeing now is an increase in this population that’s a little bit different than the conditions we saw before.”

Richard Zussman reports.

#GlobalNews #GlobalBC

[dianeelliott]

Those poor seniors having this forced on them!
Most have worked hard all of their lives and them developing Alzheimer’s and other related brain diseases associated with aging, should not subject them to having to live in facilities with drug addicts
This has zero to do with not “showing compassion” to drug addicts
This has to do with showing compassion to our seniors

[paulnickson]

Hard to help those who won't help themselves.

[coachfernslotboom]

This is why there should be specific drug addiction facilities and institutions for drug brain injuries.

[kimberleyoliver]

I’m wondering if the province plans to separate those who have brain injuries from drug addiction and behavioral problems from those with have who have brain damage and are no trouble. I live with a mental illness but I don’t do drugs so I don’t want them ever end up living in violence and fear just because I share the same diagnosis.

[derek]

They're also filling up hospitals too.

[nonasmith]

And they would be a possible danger to elderly long-term care should be separated

[TerryCioni]

NDP policy nonsense, nothing more. As one of the so called Senior Advocates pointed out seniors in British Columbia have the worst support in all of Canada. This is just another example of failed NDP policy (more like ideology) around drug abuse in this Province where the needs of the few out weight the needs of the many. Eby and Dix need to go. I can tell in this report the Global reporter is reluctant to get into the real challenges of this issue for fear of offending the NDP and thus BC voters. Mainstream media bias is well known, surprising me that we got this much.