Recently, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services sponsored a local event that brought the B.C.’s Seniors Advocate to Duncan to present on the most important and relevant issues facing seniors in our communities.
On March 19, 2014, the Government of British Columbia announced the appointment of Isobel Mackenzie as Canada’s first Seniors Advocate. With nearly 20 years of experience working on behalf of seniors at a local, provincial and national level, Mackenzie has the appropriate credentials. Watching her speak, it was clearly evident that she has seen many sides of seniors care and issues facing seniors.
In her role as the voice of seniors in B.C., Mackenzie will have a broad mandate to monitor and review issues affecting seniors and to raise awareness about resources and services available to our seniors.
Further to that, Mackenzie makes recommendations to her government peers and also to those who deliver seniors’ services related to health care, personal care, housing, transportation and income support. A few of the primary tasks charged to Mackenzie include:
Advocacy services
Information and advice
Receiving and referring concerns and complaints
Public awareness and communication
Collaboration and engagement As part of the ongoing communication with the community and developing further action steps, Mackenzie is hosting a town hall meeting in Nanaimo at the Oliver Woods Community Centre, next Thursday, Jan. 29 at 1:30 p.m. The purpose is to hear from seniors and their family members who live in the region and attendees are invited to share what is working and not working for seniors in the community. For further information about this meeting, or regarding the role of the B.C.
Seniors Advocate, contact their office via email at info@seniors advocatebc.ca or by calling toll free 1-877-952-3181.
Chris Wilkinson is the owner/GM for Nurse Next Door Home Care Services for Cowichan and central Vancouver Island. For questions or a free in-home Caring Consult call 250-748-4357, or email Cowichan@NurseNextDoor.com
