What can you do with $7.93?

May 15, 2014

The provincial government believes that you can feed a resident in a nursing home three meals and two snacks a day if they give you $7.93 per day! All you grocery shoppers need to try this challenge. Maybe you could do it one day, but how about every day?

Don't forget you need to address the Ministry of Long-Term Care guidelines: follow Canada's Food Guide, address special dietary needs and have variety in the meal planning schedule that rotates over a three week cycle.

By the time you leave the fresh produce aisle, you have used a lot of your government allowance. Don't forget dairy for maintaining strong bones and fibre...we need fibre. Vegetarians might have some coins left after they select their protein foods. It will be a search in the meat department to find something "tender" and appealing for dinner.

I visit family and friends in various nursing homes and it is the same funding...same issue. Residents are not going hungry, but quality could be better. They certainly don't get steak on this budget.

Our political representatives now and future need to address this issue. Maybe they could raise the rate to match the prison system. You should ask them about this discrepancy when you see any of them on the campaign trail. If you are a caregiver, senior or a baby-boomer like me, we need to fix the problem sooner than later.

Brenda Martin