Seniors in Saint John had a chance to voice their concerns over the provincial government’s recent changes to nursing home costs.
More than 100 people gathered Saturday afternoon to learn details of what the government is planning for their future.
“The government basically wants to include a higher daily fee,” says seniors’ coalition member Cecile Cassista. “Which will go up to $175 a day, including assets, like your liquid assets, like your bonds, your savings account.”
Right now the maximum a resident living in homecare pays is $113 a day.
The Coalition for Seniors organized Saturday’s presentation.
Cassista says she’s heard from seniors in all corners of the province and many are upset over these changes.
“It doesn’t sit well with them,” she adds. “They actually worked had for their little nest egg, maybe they want to give money to their grandchildren, many have said we would like to help out children get through education.”
Local Liberal MLA Ed Doherty attended Saturday’s meeting to defend and explain the government’s position.
“I’m very, very pleased with our government’s plan moving forward,” Doherty says. “In terms of the new asset and income plan we have for nursing homes and I just want to clarify any misunderstanding that might be here today."
Doherty says he will take concerns back to the premier and minister of social development.
“I hope we learn this will not go through,” says senior citizen, Gordon Graham, “that the government will not put it through and they’ll leave things the way they were originally.”
This is the 15th meeting that’s been held in New Brunswick since mid-April.
The Coalition for Seniors say they have many more meetings planned until the end of June, and they’re hoping this is a clear message to the government that seniors in the province are not happy.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ashley Blackford.
