Powell River seniors will be asked what they think of residential care, home-based care and HandyDART service, as BC’s seniors’ advocate Isobel Mackenzie announced her first visit to the Sunshine Coast.
Cranberry Seniors’ Centre will be hosting Mackenzie’s visit from 10 am to noon on Monday, January 19.
As Canada’s first seniors’ advocate, Mackenzie, appointed in March 2014, has been travelling around the province for the past nine months introducing the office of the seniors’ advocate and asking seniors what is working for them and what is not.
The position was created following a 2012 report critical of the state of seniors’ care from the province’s ombudsperson. The report also recommended regular public updates on waiting times for residential care facilities’ staffing levels and incidents of negligence or abuse.
Like BC ombudsperson and the representative for children and youth, the seniors’ advocate can only recommend actions to government.
Mackenzie is preparing a report of recommendations, expected in April 2015, compiled from community feedback. Areas of affordable housing and accessible transportation have been highlighted as seniors’ largest problems so far, she said.
In Powell River, Mackenzie said she expects to hear the community’s unique concerns around seniors’ transportation and ferries. To understand what residents face she added that she is planning on coming to Powell River on the ferry.
The Office of the Seniors’ Advocate can be reached at 1.877.952.3181 or by email at [email protected].
