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 |
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
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
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.
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.
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:
§
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
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.