411 Dunsmuir St.
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1X4
Phone: (604) 684-8171
Fax: (604) 681-3589

Seniors Advocacy Project

Funded by the Canadian Public Health Association under Health Canada’s VOICE in health policy initiative, the 411 Seniors Centre in partnership with Seniors’ Health and Housing Coalition is sponsoring one of   several demonstration projects in Canada.

SAP Goals

  1. To determine what supports seniors with disabilities and those who work with them need in order to become full participants in policy development; and
  2. To strengthen the capacity of existing networks on seniors’ organizations to collaborate on advocacy issues.

SAP Objectives

  1. To assess the current status of formal and informal advocacy supports for seniors with disabilities and their ability to influence public policy;
  2. To assess the perceptions of seniors and seniors’ organizations regarding barriers to their effective participation in policy decision-making;
  3. To determine the extent to which seniors’ issues are identified and brought forward to policy makers at all levels of government, and
  4. To build networks and linkages to strengthen voluntary organizations across the province to influence key policies affecting seniors with disabilities.

Project Participants

To date over 100 seniors and people working with seniors have participated in focus groups conducted around the province.   In addition people within government and health authorities have participated in one-on-one interviews.

Seniors participating include those with disabilities, from a wide range of incomes and immigrant communities.   People working with seniors include volunteers and paid staff from a wide variety of organizations.

Where around the Province

The following communities have been visited or represented:
Nelson, Kaslo, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Penticton, Prince George, Smithers, Victoria, Sooke and various communities within the GVRD.

Timeline

The field work will be completed by mid-April.   The analysis phase will take place during April and May.   Developing recommendations and writing the final report will take place in May and June.   The final report will be reviewed by mid-July, and sent to Ottawa by the end of July.   Following its acceptance by the national sponsor, the report will be made available through the 411 website and other means.

Case Study

English, French, Chinese, Pujabi, Vietnamese

Appendix A

English, French, Chinese, Pujabi, Vietnamese

Appendix B

English, French, Chinese, Pujabi, Vietnamese