Evidence of meeting #71 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was seniors.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
You also talked about the need for transportation for seniors. You are not the first ones to raise this issue as a number of witness groups have talked about it. Public transit is designed to get people downtown for work, but since there is none in rural areas, seniors cannot use it to get to their activities. In some regions, there is transportation for persons with disabilities, yet transportation for seniors who want to get out to see people is considered a grey area.
What specifically could our government do to support transportation in rural areas and even in municipalities?
4:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
The organizations that offer those services need support. Every year, we provide transportation assistance for about 950 appointments at medical clinics, but it is needed for more than medical care. A transportation cooperative was just created, but it might have to close down because it does not receive enough funding. Since transportation is expensive, organizations need help to offer it a lower cost.
We can count on volunteers. We match people up and provide a lot of transportation assistance. That being said, we cannot go to Val-des-Bois, because it is 50 kilometre return. Seniors cannot afford 43¢ per kilometre. That is much too expensive. Many of them forego health care. They do not get to their medical appointments at the hospital because they cannot receive transportation assistance.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
If I understand correctly, you are suggesting that an existing organization...
4:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
I think support is needed for the organizations that already offer those services. There must be an effort to offer support or promote transportation with the help of volunteers. It works very well for us, but we cannot meet all the needs.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Quite right. You talked about partnership and programs to break isolation, but you have not talked much about the intergenerational aspect. No one seems to have reached out to young people who can play a role. I could be wrong, but I don't think I heard you say that.
Can you talk to us about the intergenerational aspect?
4:35 p.m.
Coordinator of Activities, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
That is correct, I did not address the intergenerational aspect in my presentation.
We have a community garden, in partnership with Carrefour jeuneusse emploi de l'Outaouais and Centre Actu-Elle. Together with the Carrefour jeunesse, we encourage young people and families to work in the garden with seniors. So we do have an intergenerational aspect.
Furthermore, we are developing computer skills workshops with youth and seniors' centres so young people can teach the seniors.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
That might be a good way of helping seniors use Facebook and Google and learn to read and write on those platforms.
You talked about training. Do you have an employment skills program for seniors who want to get back into the work force, either full-time or working in the community for a modest wage, just to make ends meet?
This question is for all the witnesses except the nurses.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
You don't have time to ask all the panel. Maybe pick one and I'll give you time for a brief answer.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
No, but we promote it. We receive a lot of people and match them up with centres that do that kind of thing.
I saw a major advertisement about employment skills for those aged 50 and over, but our centre does not have that kind of program. That might be an option for us to consider.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My questions are for Ms. Osborne and Ms. Mercier.
I would like to hear your thoughts on two aspects of the missions of your respective organizations.
How do you encourage civic participation among seniors? What do you do to change the community's perception of seniors?
4:35 p.m.
Coordinator of Activities, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
As to civic participation, we have a lot of volunteers, as we said.
We have three coffee meetings: one in Thurso, one in Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, and one in Buckingham. These coffee meetings are managed by volunteers. Groups of six to ten volunteers organize the activities, purchase what is needed, and do the planning. I help them of course, but they get involved in the community by organizing and preparing activities themselves. Seniors participate in all these activities on a voluntary basis. They help me organize activities and promote them. We include them a lot in our activities. So it is not just employees, but primarily seniors who are involved.
4:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
We do promotion and prevention by giving presentations to these people on all kinds of topics, such as finance and health. We do this in the interest of prevention.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Still with regard to your missions, how do you inform seniors of their rights?
Finally, what do you do to encourage cooperation among the various stakeholders working with seniors?
4:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
Two weeks ago, for example, there was an activity called Caravane 360° pertaining to elder abuse. It was launched by the legal clinic, Clinique juridique Juripop. We always keep abreast of that kind of preventive activity, whether pertaining to abuse or other topics. This activity by the Clinique juridique Juripop was very interesting. Among other things, it dealt with powers of attorney for incapacity, rights at the end of life, and the law on medical assistance in dying. We provide a lot of tools of that kind to seniors.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
According to the testimony the committee has heard, seniors who stay in their homes do not necessarily have to stay in a house that could be too expensive, that requires too many repairs or too much upkeep, or that would be difficult to adapt for an owner with reduced mobility.
The definition of “aging in place” has been expanded to “aging in community”.
To what extent is there a need or is it feasible to offer support options in the communities and neighbourhoods where seniors live?
What role could the federal government play to establish the necessary services for seniors who have to leave their home, but who could stay in the community if they had support?
4:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
I think it is a question of urban planning. Neighbourhoods have to be tailored for seniors. That means having stores nearby and good lighting, as well as easy access for people in wheelchairs or who use a cane or walker. Even today, some stores still have a step that has to be climbed to enter. The print size on messages also has to be visible, such as the opening hours. Everything has to be examined so seniors feel as comfortable as possible in their communities. That includes safety as well as various other factors.
There was a program called Women in Cities International, through which we took some very interesting exploratory walks. We walked through neighbourhoods with seniors. There were selection criteria, such as lighting and safety, and we then adapted the environment according to their recommendations. It was a very interesting program.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
No doubt that was reassuring to them as well.
Thank you.
4:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
Thank you.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
We have about a minute and a half left. Does anybody want to ask a question?
Stéphane.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You know how important this issue is to me. All MPs have the opportunity to hold round tables and consultations with seniors in their respective ridings.
We had the opportunity, Ms. Mercier and Ms. Osborne, to take part in a round table, which I actually facilitated for a whole afternoon. In the remaining 30 seconds, I would like to hear what came out of that meeting. In your opinion, did it further the cause of seniors?
4:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée-de-la-Lièvre
We were at the table for local services. We did of course talk a lot about the work of patient service associates, which is not appreciated. There is currently a shortage of about 41% of patient services associates, who make it possible for seniors to stay in their homes. So I think their work needs to be recognized. Patient service associates are often women, and it is a job that is not very well paid.
There has to be some stability. Taking a bath is a very personal thing. When there have been four different people who have helped a senior take a bath, that is not optimal service to seniors. Basically, I think this work needs to be recognized.
