The First Six Months April - September

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: BC Medical Services Commission Canadian Home care Association BC Care providers BC Care Aide Registry 2

Origins of the Office Increased attention: issues related to seniors Ombudsperson reports – 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 4

The Advocates Mandate Seniors Advocate Act 2013 Responsibilities: MONITOR – ANALYZE – ADVOCATE – REPORT: Prescribed programs, services & support systems related to: – Healthcare – Personal Care – Housing – Transportation – Income Support 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

Office Staff Bev Biffard – Executive Coordinator Margaret Case Manager Communications Bruce Ronayne Executive Director Systemic Enquiry Mark Blandford Deputy Advocate Susan Karim Masters Coop Student 10

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 11

Next Steps 1.Begin monitoring in Establish Council of Advisors 3.Draft schedule of reports 4.Ongoing community engagement “A Conversation with the Seniors Advocate” 12

Future Contact: October Telephone Contact