5.             seniors advisory committee – 2005 annual report and 2006 work plan

 

comitÉ consultatif sur les personnes agÉes – rapport annuel de 2005 et plan de travail 2006

 

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That Council:

 

a.         receive the 2005 Annual Report of the Seniors Advisory Committee as detailed in Attachment 1; and

b.         approve the objectives contained in the 2006 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.

 

RECOMMANDATION DU COMITÉ

 

Que le Conseil :

a.         reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2005 du Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 1;

b.         approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan de travail 2006, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 2.

 

DOCUMENTATION

 

1.      Chair, Seniors Advisory Committee report dated 8 March 2006 (ACS2006-CCV-SAC-0001).


Report to/Rapport au :

 

Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee

Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

8 March 2006/8 mars 2006

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Submitted by/Soumis par:  Chair/présidente

Seniors Advisory Committee / Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées

 

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Brenda Emond, Advisory Committee Coordinator

City Clerk’s Branch/Direction du greffe

(613) 580-2424 21801, brenda.emond@ottawa.ca

 

City Wide

Ref N°: ACS2006-CCV-SAC-0001

 

 

SUBJECT:

Seniors advisory committee – work plan 2006 and 2005 annual report

 

 

OBJET :

comitÉ consultatif sur les personnes âgées– plan de travail 2006 et rapport annuel 2005 -

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Seniors Advisory Committee recommend that the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee recommend Council:

 

a.         receive the 2005 Annual Report of the Seniors Advisory Committee as detailed in Attachment 1; and

b.         approve the objectives contained in the 2006 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées recommande que le Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux recommande que le Conseil :

a.         reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2005 du Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 1;

b.         approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan de travail 2006, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 2.

 

BACKGROUND

 

City Council, 3 December 2003, reconfirmed its governance structure.  This included the advisory committees, and the requirement for each to complete a workplan outlining proposed projects and activities for the upcoming year.  The workplan is to identify each and every activity the Committee plans to undertake in the upcoming year, whether they have a budgetary impact or not.  The item should be identified, a brief description of the project or activity should be noted, and the anticipated timing of the item should be provided. 

 

The Lead Department Representatives are to provide the Committee with information on the departmental workplan and priorities, where the workplans of the Committees tie into that workplan, and where the Committee can assist the Department.  The Lead Department Representative will also advise on what staff and/or financial resources are available as part of departmental priorities.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Seniors’ Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference include the requirement to produce an annual work plan.  The work plan is a means to establish projects, activities and initiatives that will take place the following year.  This report will also provide the amount of funds required to accomplish the Committee’s goals.

 

On 16 November 2005, the Seniors Advisory Committee approved its 2005 Annual Report and 2006 Work Plan.

 

CONSULTATION

 

Community and Protective Services Department

 

The Community and Protective Services (CPS) Department appreciates the advice and support provided by the SAC in 2005 as outlined in the 2005 Annual Report (Attachment 1) including participation in the City of Ottawa’s Seniors Agenda as well as important issues referred to the Department via the HRSS Committee such as the evaluation of allowable assets.

 

The Department supports the SAC’s 2006 workplan (Attachment 2) including key objectives around housing, healthy living, and continuing development of the Seniors Agenda.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Attachment 1 –    2005 Annual Report of the Seniors Advisory Committee

Attachment 2 –    Proposed 2006 Workplan of the Seniors Advisory Committee

Attachment 3 –    Seniors Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

City Clerks Branch staff will forward the recommendations approved by the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee to City Council for ratification.

 


 

 

                                                                                                                                   Attachment 1

2005 ANNUAL REPORT

SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

To provide Council with the best possible advice regarding the issues of concern to seniors, the Seniors Advisory Committee has been involved in a number of activities to enhance its role and ensure that the work being completed reflects current priorities among City Counselors and seniors living in the community.  For example, the Committee had updated its work plan and the 28 recommendations that guided past activities (See attachment A) and created four sub-committees (transportation, housing, health and, budget) to achieve the recommendations.  Members had also updated the Committee’s brochure (See attachment B).

 

Since March of 2005, the time the Committee presented its first annual report to Council, members have remained active in the community, attending City consultations, presentations and meetings with service providers, seniors groups and counsellors.  The knowledge gained through these meetings had helped the Committee as a whole to bring forth appropriate motions and shape budgets.

 

Below are some examples of the various consultations, presentations and meetings Committee members have attended or have presented to on behalf of the Committee.

 

1.  City Budget Meeting. 

The Chair attended various meetings on the budget to gain a better understanding of the content and its impact on seniors.  A presentation to Counselors was also made that highlighted the Committee’s concerns and recommendations that would assist City Counsel in maintaining or improving the quality of life of seniors.

 

2.  OC Transpo

Three meetings with staff at OC Transpo were held to discuss the following:

 

Provide an update on the progress of the data collection process put into place to improve the refusal rate of Para Transpo and Para services to suburban and rural area and whether services are meeting demand.

 

Learn more about the Share-Ride program that the Coalition of Home Support Agencies had received annualized MOH funding to create common systems.  They will be piloting a software system that will allow agencies to share rides. 

 

Learning more about other transportation issues that may be of importance to senior’s groups in the City.

 

Develop ways to work with the Accessible Transit Specialist to strengthen the advocacy. 

 

2.  Abbotsford Senior Centre 

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Coalition’s Transportation work plan.


3. Successful Aging Ottawa

 

Members attended two consultations. “Charting our Coarse” held to discuss and identify how transportation affects the health and well being of seniors.  At the second consultation, ROTIS had agreed to convene a meeting of all seniors transportation groups to identify common issues and generate real solutions. Members attended a presentation on the results of SAO’s Survey.  SAC has been supportive of this survey and we are using the results to target issues of most importance to seniors including:

 

a) retaining drivers licenses and transportation for Ottawa seniors,

b) aging in place and staying in their own home for as long as possible and;

c) making good use of recreation services and participate in physical activity. 

 

 

The Committee is supportive of the conclusion that appropriate access to transportation is a health issue and that seniors who do not have access to transportation do not get out as often as they wish and that they are impaired from participating in recreation and social activities and having access to medical services and this contributes to their isolation.

 

 

4.  The City of Ottawa’s Seniors Agenda

The purpose of this meeting was to meet with Dianne Officer and Norma Strachan to learn more about the Seniors Agenda and identify areas where the Committee can play a role.  

 

5.  Library Board

The Chair presented to board members on the effect a fee increase and service changes would have on seniors.

 

  Accessibility Advisory Committee and Para Transpo

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss with city staff Para Transpo’s current 4.2% refusal rate and the difficulties in increasing services.  During the meeting the following were agreed to by the SAC:

 

 

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Committee’s concerns with aged-mixed buildings and learn more about the Safer Communities project announced in April.

 

6.   Consultation on the Community Funding Framework

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the impact of funding on senior programming.

 

7.    Reaching Out To Isolated Seniors (ROTIS Program)

The purpose of attending this meeting was to learn about the newly created program.

 

 

Guest Speakers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of Motions:

 

June 15th, 2005

 

That the Seniors Advisory Committee recommend that Stittsville be excluded from the Urban Transit Area given that the tax increase of 500% does not guarantee further transportation service.

 

That the Committee review its terms of reference over the summer and review if the following sentence should be added: Access to and the benefits of the City of Ottawa programs should be available to all citizens equally, according to need.

 

 

October 20th, 2005

 

Whereas the asset level for eligibility of Home Help and Essential Health and Social Support Programs has been frozen at $3000 for the last 7 years;

 

Whereas many low-income seniors in Ottawa who may require such services are not eligible for these support services because their assets exceed the modest amount of allowable assets;

 

Whereas inflation over the last decade has eroded the value of even these modest assets;

 

Be it resolved that the Senior Advisory Committee recommends to the Employment and Financial Assistance Branch of the Community and Protective Service Department to evaluate the allowable assets in order to explore increasing the eligibility to respond to the need for service by low-income seniors; and ,

 

Be it further resolved that SAC also recommends that this evaluation investigate the number of Ottawa low-income seniors that are ineligible simply because they have assets that are above the Program's $3000 ceiling.

 

           


 

Attachment 2

 

Seniors Advisory Committee

Workplan 2006

 

Objective 1: Provide input to city planners to ensure continuity of initiatives, priority for seniors’ issues and visibility of the advisory committee.

 

Activities:

 

 

 

Objective 2: Subcommittees to continue with identified priorities that have resulted from public consultations and the subcommittees’ ongoing investigation of issues.

 

Activities:

 

Transportation Subcommittee:

 

 

Housing Subcommittee:

 

§         SAC members to participate in board meetings of the Safer Communities initiative to ensure that the project addresses residents’ safety concerns.

§         Maintain contact with housing authorities to ensure seniors’ needs are addressed.

§         Identify possible funding sources for Aging in Place projects.

§         Monitor and follow up on zoning changes that would permit granny flats and conversions in single detached homes.


 

Healthy Living Subcommittee:

 

 

Objective 3: Meet with other advisory committees on common issues.

 

Activities:

 

Objective 4:  Continue to work with other Community agencies that represent senior’s issues in the Ottawa.

 

Activities:

 

Objective 5: Continue to monitor development of the City of Ottawa’s Seniors Agenda.

 

Activities:

Give feedback on the inventory of services being developed as part of the Seniors Agenda.


 

                                                                                                                                                            Attachment 3

 

Approved by City Council on 27 June 2001

Amended 03 December 2003

(As per Council approved Governance Report)

 

 

SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Terms of Reference

 

 

MANDATE

 

The mandate of the Seniors Advisory Committee is to act as a liaison to enrich and enhance the lives of seniors in the City, identify barriers, form partnerships with the community, and act as a public forum for issues affecting seniors.

 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Seniors Advisory Committee shall be responsible for:

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The Seniors Advisory Committee shall be organized as follows, with a total maximum citizen membership of between 9 – 15:

 

·        A minimum of one citizen appointment representing the rural community

 

 

At least one half of the membership shall be individuals who are 65 years of age or older.

 

All appointments to the Seniors Advisory Committee shall be approved by both the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee and Ottawa City Council.

 

In addition, the Seniors Advisory Committee shall also have in a resource, liaison and/or advisory capacity, the following:

·        1 Staff representative from the People Services Department (non-voting)

·        A minimum of 1 member of Ottawa City Council, appointed by Council (non-voting)

 

·        The process for choosing membership for the Seniors Advisory Committee will follow the approved Appointments Policy.

 

 

LEAD DEPARTMENT/REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

 

The People Services Department shall be the lead department for the Seniors Advisory Committee.  The Seniors Advisory Committee shall report through the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee to City Council, however may report to another Standing Committee where appropriate, depending on the issue.

 

 

WORKPLANS AND ANNUAL REPORTS

 

The Seniors Advisory Committee must report annually to City Council through the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee (timing to be determined by the Chair, Advisory Committee Coordinator and City Clerk) on the activities of the Committee in the current year and on the Committee’s workplan for the following year.