REPORT TO COUNCIL
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SENIORS
DECEMBER 20, 1999
INFORMATION
1. Annual Report File: 3057-1/RTS: 1203
Council: January 18, 2000
The Special Advisory Committee on Seniors was created by a resolution of Vancouver City Council on July 23, 1983. A list of the current members is attached as Appendix A.
The Committee's mandates are to contribute to the well-being of the older citizens of Vancouver and to endeavour to improve their quality of life. The Committee
· advises Council on issues of concern to seniors,
· acts as a means of communication or liaison between Council, other Council-appointed bodies and other groups;
· provides support to groups endeavouring to initiate and develop projects assisting seniors,
· disseminates pertinent information obtained and evaluated by Committee members to appropriate agencies and groups throughout the City.This annual report covers the year 1999.
Guest Presenters
Names of Presenters Subject
John Andruschak, Director of Home Home Support and Continuing Care review
Support, V/RHB
Roger Hughes, Architect Sassamat Place
Robert Isaac-Renton, Architect Congregate housing, 333 East Pender
Bill Knight, TransLink Richmond RapidBus
Pastor Steven Lee, Developer Congregate housing, 333 East PenderSharon Martin, Director of Community Health Centres
Community and Public
Involvement, V/RHBTim Newman, Office of Public Trustee Public Trustee function and guardianship
legislation
Dr. Dan Paccioritti, Audiologist Seniors Hearing Outreach Project
Maryte Racys, Vancouver Public Library VPL Outreach Program
Heike Roth Accessible and usable dwellings and congregate housing policySignificant Activities
· Attended opening of VPL user-friendly facility at Library Square
· Attended group discussion on Attitudes of Seniors to Health and Pharmaceutical Issues
· Attended International Year of Older Persons Conference in Richmond, BC
· Attended International Year of Older Persons Summit Conference
· Attended Institute of Hearing Accessibility Research (IHEAR) Conference, UBCSignificant Topics Considered
· Adult Guardianship Legislation
· Health (Subcommittee meetings held at Pacific Spirit Health Centre)
- Changes in health care system with respect to seniors
- Community Health Centres
- Community Health Line
- Elder Abuse Program
- Restructuring of home support services
- Seniors Eye Care Program
- Seniors Hearing Outreach Project· Housing (Comments and recommendations requested by City staff)
- 333 East Pender Street
- Application of SAFER Grants for residents of proposed congregate care projects
- Braddan Private Hospital, 2400-Block West 2nd avenue
- Clarenden Court, 6475 Elliott Street
- Edith Cavell Hospital, 2835/2855 Sophia Street
- Fair Haven, 2270 East 48th Avenue
- Guidelines for congregate housing- "Harder-to-house" Facility, 55/67 East Hastings Street
- Louis Brier Care Facility, 41st and Oak
- Sassamat Place, 4470 West 8th Avenue· International Year of Older Persons
· Transportation
- Changes in Motor Vehicle Act
- HandyDART services for adult day care centres
- Hours of operation for split island gasoline stations
- GVTA Public Advisory Committee (Bruce Chown, a SACS member, was appointed to this body.
- RapidBus Service Proposal
- Shared-ride Service ProposalIf Council members would like further information on any of these topics, the Committee would be pleased to provide it.
Resolutions Forwarded to Council
· Request that Council proclaim 1999 as the Year of Older persons and October 1, 1999 as the Day of Older Persons in Vancouver. Approved by Council.
· Request for funding to send two representatives to the Institute of Hearing Accessibility Research (IHEAR) Conference at UBC. Approved by Council.Future Directions
The Committee expects to pursue the following issues during the year 2000, subject to any direction which Council chooses to provide:
· Promotions of improved communication, especially in the areas of health and housing
· Translnk strategic transportation plans
· HandyDARt supply/demand balance
· Minibus transportation
· Human rights legislation
· Housing-related issues
· Health-related issues
· Promotions of improved communication, especially in the areas of health and housing
· Translnk strategic transportation plans
· HandyDARt supply/demand balance·Minibus transportation
· Human rights legislation
· Housing-related issues
· Health-related issuesWhen appointments are made for the coming term, it would be useful for the Committee to obtain expertise in the areas of health, transportation and housing. Committee members will encourage suitable candidates in these categories to put their names forward for Council's consideration.
(signed) Mary Bosze (signed) Karl Taussig
Co-Chair Vice-ChairCITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager submits this report for Councils information.
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APPENDIX A
Special Advisory Committee on Seniors
Members: 1997-1999 Term
Mary Bosze (Co-Chair)
Patricia Barrett
Bruce Chown
Wyn Gladman
Marg Green
Joyce Jones
Sophie King
Beatrice Leinbach
Dr. Josephine Mallek
Simon Oosterhuis
James Chi Ming Pau
Cynthia Ramsay
Gurnam Singh Ranu
Carol D. Smith
Kay Stovold (Co-Chair) Karl Taussig (Vice-Chair)
Beverley Thomas
Gillian Watson-Donald
Anna Welbourn
Miriam Yu* * * * *
(c) 1998 City of Vancouver