SONS is a group of dedicated people wanting to make a difference in our community. During the 1990’s we had local Health Councils. It was an opportunity for local input and to provide the Council with an awareness of the health needs of the Northeast. Services such as transportation, home care/support, and facilities were seriously lacking.

On August 26, 2002, a group of Citizens met as they were very concerned about the cuts to health services in our community. For many years, our loved ones were sent away to anywhere in the province when they could no longer remain in their homes. Enough was enough, it was time for action. We elected Jean Leahy as President who was committed to making a difference. Jean worked tirelessly on projects which would benefit our community. Her leadership was evident even on the day that she passed away. She continued to encourage, support, and provide ideas for improvement for health care.  Jean was instrumental in advocating our issues at the local, regional, provincial and federal level.

On February 5, 2004 a very spirited town hall meeting with Northern Health organized by Stu Demalt was held to discuss the lack of facilities in our community. No one was happy!!

From that meeting, it was decided to formally create a group called SONS or Save Our Northern Seniors (name given by Ruth Ann Darnall).  SONS became a registered society whose members are always advocating for Seniors. The purposes of the Society were and continue to be:

• To build a facility which will ensure the safety, respect, and dignity of our seniors;
• To provide current and reliable information for the number of facilities and beds available in our area;
• To pursue all avenues of support for our community – rural and urban – such as Supportive Living, Assisted Living, Intermediate Care, Extended Care, Special Unit, Psycho-Geriatric Care, Adult Daycare, Home Care, and Emergency Care.

Today, SONS continues to be very involved making presentations, attending meetings and forums, as well as sharing information on our SONS Facebook page and email. Our contacts such as the Fort St. John Seniors’ Task Force enables us to bring forward the concerns from our community members. In addition, all information is shared with our contacts. SONS is a source of information and support for community members seeking help. Our motto is if we don’t know, we will find out and get back to you.

For over 21 years, presentations continue to be made to the City of Fort St. John, Northern Health, the Peace River Regional District, the Select Standing Committee on Finance, to our local MLA, provincial and federal politicians. We take every opportunity to advocate for better health care.

Critical issues facing our community are:

• Retention and recruitment of staff in all areas
• Shortage of Health Care Staff
• The lack of family doctors
• Facilities for all levels of care
• Lack of hours of care for our loved ones in Long Term Care is currently 3.36 hours allotted per day per Resident. This is simply not adequate time considering the many Residents who need complex care.
• Wait times for lab and surgical procedures
• Travel time and cost to attend surgical procedures which used to be done in Fort St John but now have a lengthy wait time so many people have to go elsewhere.

Our accomplishments include participation in the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa Residential Care Facility which opened in 2012, the establishment of a nursing school here in the Peace, increased home support, increased HandyDART service on Saturdays, mailboxes at ground level at Canada Post, a ramp built between Shoppers’ Drug Mart and Save-On Foods, and first ever Community Healthy Guide. The Guide has had several revisions as well as mini-inserts to address the current concerns. In addition, SONS has been successful in having for more educational opportunities for our local students made available.

Have we made a difference? Yes!!

Is our job done yet? No!!

Because we care, SONS will continue to pursue every avenue possible to provide support for our members of our community and provincial organizations.

Submitted by Margaret Little    250-785-5365
mackeno@xplornet.ca
c/o 13213 281 Road
Charlie Lake, BC
V1J 8K6
FB page:   SONS or Save Our Northern Seniors