Local advocates are pushing for the province to make good on an election time promise.
The Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock chapter of the Ontario Oral Health Alliance is raising its collective voices in hopes of getting the provincial government to follow through with a $98 million a year program to provide dental services for low-income seniors.
Anna Rusak, an alliance member and Oral Health Promoter with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Health Unit says “we know many older adults and seniors, including those who live in long-term care homes, are on fixed income and can’t afford dental care or the cost of dentures,” she goes on to say “many seniors also lose their dental benefits upon retirement from work and may not be able to afford dental care.”
According to information provided by HKPR, a 2014 study done by the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario found that an estimated two to three million people across the province do not visit the dentist because of the cost.
As well, a recent survey done by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, which has a local branch in Haliburton, found that only 37 per cent of retirees continues to get dental coverage after retiring.
Rusak says “that means adults and seniors who need dental care, but cannot afford to see a dentist, are falling through the cracks,” she adds “these individuals need to be given the same access to dental treatment as the government now provides children and youth.”
The alliance says they met with Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott back in January, adding that they are hopeful that action will be coming soon.
Seniors in need of dental care are being asked to contact Scott’s office and share their concerns with the MPP.