Transcript Document

The First Six Months
April - September 2014
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Who is The Advocate
• Appointed Advocate March 2014
• Led BC’s largest not-for-profit
delivering homecare, licensed
dementia care, community services
and assisted living
• Introduced a national best practice
dementia care facility
• Served on these Boards:
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BC Medical Services Commission
Canadian Home care Association
BC Care providers
BC Care Aide Registry
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Origins of the Office
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Increased attention: issues related to seniors
Ombudsperson reports – 2010-2012
Seniors Action Plan – February 2012
Office of the Seniors Advocate legislation –
February 2013
• PSA recruitment for SA December 2013
• Appointment March 2014
The Advocates Mandate
Seniors Advocate Act 2013
Responsibilities:
1. MONITOR: Provision of seniors’ services
2. ANALYZE: Issues that the Advocate
believes are important to the welfare of
seniors
3. ADVOCATE: In the interests of seniors
4. INFORM & REPORT: To the public &
individuals
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The Advocates Mandate
Seniors Advocate Act 2013
Responsibilities:
MONITOR – ANALYZE – ADVOCATE – REPORT:
Prescribed programs, services & support systems
related to:
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Healthcare
Personal Care
Housing
Transportation
Income Support
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The Advocates Mandate
Seniors Advocate Act 2013
Things The Advocate May Do:
1. Identify & Analyze Systemic Challenges
2. Collaboration to improve service
effectiveness and efficiency
3. Promote awareness of systemic challenges
and resources available to seniors
4. Make recommendations to Government &
to service providers
5. Refer individual complaints appropriately
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The Advocates Mandate
Seniors Advocate Act 2013
Legislated Duty:
1. Advise in an independent manner: The
Minister, public officials and service
providers
2. Report to the Public: In any way
deemed appropriate
3. Report Annually to the Minister
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The Advocates Mandate
Seniors Advocate Act 2013
Minister:
1. Must make public all reports by the
Advocate as soon as reasonably
practical
2. May ask the Seniors Advocate to
undertake actions
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The First Six Months
• Secured office Space – Victoria
• Hired Key Staff
• Provincial Listening Tour
– 25+ communities
– Vancouver Island - fall 2014
• Stakeholder Engagement Sessions
– 40+ advocacy and service provider groups
• Analysis of Listening Tour and Consultations
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Office Staff
Bev Biffard –
Executive Coordinator
Mark Blandford
Deputy Advocate
Bruce Ronayne
Executive Director
Systemic Enquiry
Susan Karim
Masters Coop Student
Margaret Case
Manager Communications
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What We Have Been Told
• Housing – Multiple issues reported
• Seniors on lowest income levels have significant difficulties
• Fragmented services delivery system
• Dementia Care – community and residential
• Transportation
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Next Steps
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Begin monitoring in 2015
Establish Council of Advisors
Draft schedule of reports
Ongoing community engagement “A
Conversation with the Seniors Advocate”
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Future Contact: October
Telephone Contact
1-877-952-3181
Email: [email protected]
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