Parents and caregivers of medically complex children are hanging on by a thread

    Thursday, 26 October 2023 07:00

    By Tonya Organ

    Parents and caregivers are often confused about, or unaware of eligibility for federal and/or provincial government assistance.

    Parents and caregivers of medically complex children in Newfoundland and Labrador are hanging on by a thread. The Citizens’ Representative, Bradley Moss, released a public report yesterday on the Challenges of Parents and Caregivers of Medically Complex Children. Moss says there are issues with the provision of services and programs. Parents and caregivers are often confused about, or unaware of eligibility for federal and/or provincial government assistance. The report states parents and caregivers are relying on social media to learn about services and connect with each other. There are extremely limited programming options with long waitlists, especially after the child reaches adulthood. Some parents and caregivers are experiencing extreme financial hardship, and have a general lack of respite hours. Also, private insurance coverage, especially for equipment, is expensive and problematic to obtain. As well, there is a lack of supportive housing or residential accommodation for more functional adults. 

     

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