Thank you very much.
This is David Pedlar speaking from Charlottetown.
First, I want to extend my apologies for not being able to participate in person. I did make two efforts to get to Ottawa yesterday, and I failed on both counts due to flight cancellations, so I hope the committee will accept my apology.
Marcus and I are delighted to be here today to talk to you about what the evidence tells us about best practices in the organization of care delivery systems for the elderly, and the department's veterans independence program in the context of those practices.
I will be going into more detail later in this presentation, but as you have heard in previous presentations from the department, the veterans independence program, commonly referred to as VIP, provides services such as housekeeping and grounds maintenance, which are provided to eligible clients to help maintain their independence in their own homes and communities.
In addition, I will discuss an important research study being undertaken in partnership with the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat, which is nearing completion and is designed to contribute to our ongoing efforts to improve care for older veterans while also sharing lessons learned in veteran care with Canadians.
Currently Veterans Affairs is engaged in the veterans health services review--which you, of course, are aware of--the department's most comprehensive review of health care in over 60 years. The research we'll talk about today will be in support of that review.
In terms of the subject expertise before you today, I have a broad background in research for care of the elderly, as well as expertise in some topics in veterans and military health for our younger clientele as well. My recent expertise in the area of the veterans independence program is largely in the context of the research study that we'll be discussing with you today.
Dr. Hollander is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in care delivery systems for the elderly. He is also the scientific lead on a study of the veterans independence program that we will be discussing this morning.
We'll be doing a joint presentation, so I will now ask Dr. Hollander if he would be so kind as to start our presentation from here.