Sarnia-Lambton's MP has received international recognition for her work in palliative care, Alzheimer's and dementia.
Home Instead Senior Care presented Marilyn Gladu with its 2019 Senior Advocate Award at her Finch Drive constituency office Tuesday morning.
Director James Chalmers, who owns and manages the office serving Sarnia, Strathroy, London and St. Thomas, nominated her for the award.
"I was able to raise awareness about what Marilyn was doing and in presenting that to the government affairs department at the global headquarters for Home Instead Senior Care, they did their research, looked up what Marilyn had been doing and chose her to be the 2019 seniors' advocate," said Chalmers.
Gladu first tabled a Private Members Bill in May 2016 to develop a national framework for palliative care in Canada. Bill C-277 received Royal Assent in December 2017.
She's also called on the government to develop a national strategy for dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's.
"To receive this recognition from an international company... I didn't believe I was hitting the radar as much as that, but, certainly my advocacy on palliative care and dementia is needed and we need to do more," said Gladu. "I'm going to continue to push and I'm really pleased and honoured to be recognized in this way."
Gladu said her role as the Conservative Party's shadow minister of health has helped promote change.
"Four million dollars a year is what was allocated for dementia and there's 400,000 people in the country that have it," she said. "That's about $10 each, certainly not enough to really staff the need. So, to call on them to do more, they have begun to do more. Same with palliative care. There was nothing being done and now we start to see money flowing to build hospices, provide training and to get the health care workers that we need in the system."
Chalmers said Gladu was announced as the recipient at their 2019 international convention in Omaha, Nebraska.
Home Instead Senior Care has over 1,100 offices in 14 countries.
