Labelle Lectureship

Roberta Labelle was one of the Centre's founding members. Her death in 1991 was unexpected and occurred when broad recognition for her research in health economics was just starting to emerge. In memory of Roberta, CHEPA and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics collaborated on establishing the Annual Labelle Lectureship Series. In October each year a health services researcher with emerging recognition and an inter-disciplinary approach to research, gives a general interest lecture on a topic in the broadly defined areas of health economics and/or health policy. The Labelle Lecturer is also available for consultations with individuals in and outside McMaster University during the period of his/her visit. An endowment was established to assure the ongoing funding of the Lectureship.

2010: Tamara Daly, MA, PhD
Assistant Professor, Facultyof Health, University of Toronto
Researcher, Political Economist, School of Health Policy and Management

"It's about time to care: Can we learn from the Scandinavians about care for the elderly?"

Wednesday, October 6, 2010, HSC-1A1, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Unlike Canada, Sweden maintains a universally accessible long-term care system, despite having the highest proportion of people over 80 in all of Europe. Called “special housing”, it is governed by national objectives, is publicly funded from tax revenue, and is almost entirely publicly delivered at the local level by the 280 municipalities. In contrast, in Canada long-term care facilities are extended health services under the Canada Health Act, with funding, delivery and ownership arrangements differing in each province. Access to a bed is neither universal nor guaranteed at more than 2,100 “homes for the aged”, which are owned by a mix of private commercial, nonprofit, and municipal operators.

During this presentation, results were presented comparing Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia to the Scandinavian countries. Two aspects of "time to care" were explored: the extent to which workers have time to adequately care for elderly residents; and how it is time to align care for the elderly at the top of provincial and national policy agendas.

To listen to and view the slides from the presentation, click here.

Biosketch: 
Tamara Daly holds a master's degree in political economy from Carleton University, and a PhD in health policy from the University of Toronto. She studies health care work, aging and long-term care policy, and gender and health policy. Her work in long-term care has been featured in numerous publications, including a book entitled They Deserve Better.

Discussant:  Joanne Dykeman, co-chair of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association Applied Research Committee

For a list of previous speakers at the Labelle Lecture, click here.