'I can't continue to care for my dad': Islander urges province to change home-care system

Every three months or so another piece of him disappears.

Alzheimershascontinuedto take more from the 88-year-old P.E.I. mansince he was diagnosed with the diseaseinAugust, 2016, forcing his daughterto piece together a life for herself and her aging father.

• Alzheimer Society worries P.E.I. dementia strategy no closer to becoming reality
• P.E.I. mother promotes wrist device for people prone to wander

The Queens County woman became her dad's primary caregiver since the diagnosis, butafter over a year trying to make ends meet, and being denied home care,she's asking the province step in to help.

"I need additional support because I can't continue to care for my dad," she said.

There's a large group of seniors coming down the pipe and we are not prepared to service these people.

CBC has decided not to name the family for privacy reasons.

The woman said she was told her father doesn't qualify forhome carebecause he is in good physical health anddoesn't needhelp showering, dressing or shaving. Meanwhile, she's been looking after him, working full time andpaying private caregivers $450 a week to keep him safe and fed while she's at work.

After all this time, and without extensive family or a support system, she's struggling to continue makingends meet.

"Anything I can afford Ido and I was told once again that he doesn't really qualify for home care," she said.

"I'm simply just trying to avoid my father going to a hospital I'm just asking for help somehow to manage my situation"

'This is my struggle right now'

As of now, her father goes to theBreckenHouse Adult Day Health Program in Charlottetown oncea week, whichoperates Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to4 p.m.

But the demand for the programis too high,and he no longer qualifies for the community care respite program because of his risk of wandering.

• Dozens of Islanders waiting in hospital for long-term care beds
• 'Why are these resources being wasted?': Empty P.E.I. nursing home beds puzzle patient's family

This has left her to take care of her father essentially by herself with littlesupport, which is taking a toll on her wallet as well as her health.

"Despite the government's efforts in wanting people to stay in their home longer, there's nothing really to support me in my situation," she said.

"This is my struggle right now, it's physically affecting me taking care of my father and I just need some additional help that I don't have to pay money for, or outrageous amount of money for, to help me in this situation."

'Only going to get worse'

She's asking government step in and change the current home-care system, she said,becauseit isn't working.

"This needs to be addressed, it's not going to go away it's only going to get worse and really the government has to put more time and energy into this," she said.

"There's a large group of seniors coming down the pipe and we are not prepared to service these people."

CBC asked Health PEI for a response but haven't received one yet.

An official did say thatBrecken House is expanding its hoursto Saturdays and extended daily hours but
those changes haven't happened yet.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Teachers won't be conducting learning disability assessments after all, minister says
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Solar energy project exceeds expectations in Summerside