In Research, Program Development and Advocacy

To meet its mandate of researching seniors' issues, and advocating for the rights and needs of seniors, the COA has undertaken the following projects:

• Ice Storm Report Presentation: Presentation to services providers and other interested parties on the results of the Ice Storm Report produced by the Council. At the same time drafts of both the "Disaster Planning Guide for Seniors" and the "Disaster Response Guide for Organizations" were circulated for comment. (Mar 99)

• Presentation on the Ontario Budget 1999: Presented a brief to MPP John Baird during the Ontario Budget 1999 public consultations. The Council addressing funding concerns as they relate to health care and hospital restructuring. (Mar 99)

• Under Funding of Local Community Health Care
  On September 17, 1998 the Board of the CCAC announced that more than 2,000 local people who depend on home care services will lose all homemaking services and one-third of personal care services for the period from November 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999. This brief, sent to the Minister of Health outlines the COA position on this issue. (Oct 98)

• Presentation to the City of Kingston Community Development Committee: Information regarding the need for municipal ombuds services.

• Health Services Restructuring: Presented a brief to the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) in response to their recommendation for community hospital restructuring.

• Presentation to Kingston City Council: Responded to a request by the City of Kingston for information regarding the impact of the HSRC hospital restructuring recommendations of the City of Kingston.

• Recent Economic and Social Shifts Concerning Seniors: Presentation to the Ban Righ Brown Bag series.

• Bill 142: Social Assistance Reform Act: Presentation to a public meeting at St. Matthews United Church in Kingston regarding the implications of this legislation on seniors.

• Transition Board for the New City of Kingston: Presentation regarding cutbacks to services to seniors and long term care facilities.

• Public Forum on Health Care: Presentation on the future of health care in our region.

• Bill 84 - Fire Safety Act: Prepared and presented a position paper on this legislation.

• Consultation on Proposed Changes to Long-Term Care Facility Legislation: The COA was asked to comment on proposed changes and has prepared a brief.

• Changes to Municipal Funding: Presented a brief to the Liberal fact finding task force, and prepared a self-advocacy kit to assist seniors in communicating their opinions about the changes.

• Silver Ribbon Campaign: Hosted the inaugural meeting to discuss the impact of municipal amalgamation on seniors.

• Research - How Service Providers Meet Seniors' Information Needs: 78 human service, recreation and education organizations were surveyed to discover what means they use to transmit information to seniors and to respond to requests for information.

• Research - Seniors' Information Needs and Concerns: Community meetings and interviews of 91 seniors throughout Frontenac County to find out how they receive information about programs and services, what gaps they perceive and what changes they would like to see.

• Research - Challenging the Myths: Exploring Seniors' Contribution to Our Community: A survey of seniors designed to challenge the myth that seniors "take" more from the community than they contribute.

• Research - Challenging the Myths: Seniors' Opinions About Drug Co-Payment: A questionnaire designed to find out how seniors feel about the changes to the drug benefit program.

• Research - Issues Critical to Seniors: A survey of the members of the Council on Aging Network of Ontario, in order to compile a list of issues critical to older adults.

• Public Housing: The Council prepared an action kit to help seniors to advocate on their own behalf regarding proposed changes to public housing.

To meet its mandate of dissemination of information and education of the general public about aging, the COA provided:

• Speakers Series: The COA hosted meetings at which speakers presented information on issues of importance to seniors. Speakers included:
  • Roberta Jamieson - Ombudsman for Ontario: Concerns arising from the downloading and privatizing of services previously provided by the provincial government.

  • Tom Plunkett, "Amalgamation and the Impact on the Community".

  • Eleanor Plain, Senior Manager of the Community Care Access Centre, "The CCAC and Seniors". - Mar 97

  • David Mowat, MD, Medical Officer of Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit, "Challenges of Changing the Health Care System" - Dec 96

  • Brian Smith, Ministry of Health, Long Term Care Division, "Ministry of Health now Responsible for Seniors" - Sept 96

  • Greg Grange, Housing Manager, Kingston and Frontenac Housing, "Public Housing Changes and Seniors" - Mar 96

  • John Gerretson, MPP, Kingston & the Islands "The Impact of New Legislation on Seniors" - Dec 95

• Seniors Voice Newsletter: Into its fourth year, the Seniors Voice is taking news of important issues to seniors and people interested in the issues facing our aging population, throughout Frontenac County.

• Workshop Series 1: The first series of workshops designed to provide information and education to seniors and those providing service to seniors. Workshops included:
  • Advocacy for Seniors
  • Fundraising for Small Organizations
  • Media Relations Techniques
  • Effective Lobbying Techniques

• All Candidates Meeting - 1997 Federal Election: To give people a chance to discuss issues of importance to seniors with candidates, the COA hosted an all-candidates meeting at City Hall.

• Resource Library: maintaining and building a collection of reference materials of use to people researching seniors issues.

• Participation in Community Education: The COA has provided guest lecturers to programs at Queen's University and St. Lawrence College. The COA has provided work-study placement opportunities for students from the Social Service Worker/Gerontology program at St. Lawrence and the Faculty of Nursing at Queen's.