A group of Burnaby seniors is upset about the provincial government's plan to charge user fees for wheelchairs in residential care homes.
Voices of Burnaby Seniors is writing the Fraser Health Authority and Health Minister Terry Lake, asking to scrap the fees and adequately fund the health-care system, so that costs are not downloaded onto seniors.
"We feel this nickel-and-diming people who are poor in order to meet the budget is just not right. It's the wrong way to go," said Elsie Dean, a member of the group.
Dean is hoping the government will reverse its decision to charge for wheelchair use.
According to Dean, seniors often pay 80 per cent of their income to stay in residential care and are left with about $200 per month. The policy, effective Sept. 1, will costs seniors $300 per year, at a rate of $25 per month.
The fees are meant to cover wheelchair maintenance costs for public care facilities.
On May 31, the health authority sent a letter to "clients," stating that those needing wheelchairs would have to rent or buy them, and if they can't afford that, they can pay the $25 monthly fee to use a Fraser Health wheelchair.
If that's too costly, seniors who can demonstrate financial hardship can have the $25 fee waived.
