News for Staff and Volunteers of Seniors Organizations

Input into collaborative approach to seniors inclusion

On December 6, the Federal Government announced a new round of funding for New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Pan-Canadian projects to support social inclusion of seniors, particularly those seniors living with significant barriers to full social participation. They are looking for multi-sectoral collaboratives built on a collective impact framework that will involve seniors and communities to address the challenges that seniors face that limit their participation in social and community living that supports their well-being and dignity.

The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC) has filled the role of the backbone to the Pan-Edmonton Group Addressing the Social Isolation of Seniors (PEGASIS) which was part of the NHSP Pan-Canadian funding from 2015 to 2019. ESCC is bringing together stakeholders from across Edmonton to examine the latest Call for Concepts and develop a collaborative concept to address social inclusion, building on the lessons learned from the PEGASIS initiative. We will look at how we can mobilize seniors and community stakeholders to create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for seniors now and in the future to be active and engaged in all that Edmonton has to offer.

ESCC is inviting you to provide your input to a concept for a collaborative approach to engaging Edmonton seniors and addressing barriers to social inclusion. The timelines for the Federal Government call for concepts are tight. We would like to hear your thoughts on how our community could be more inclusive for seniors and provide more opportunities for their engagement by midnight on January 6 by:

Email: sheila@seniorscouncil.net

Fax: 780-428-3844

Mail: #255, Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, 8330-82 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6C 4E3

Online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZKVWPF8

We have drafted an initial concept plan and a planned process for submission to share with all interested stakeholders in preparation for the development of a final concept proposal.

Stakeholders are also invited to attend a facilitated working session to examine and further develop the Call for Concepts.

PEGASIS Strategic Engagement Session: New Horizons for Seniors Call for Concepts

January 9, 1 – 4 p.m.

Santa Maria Goretti Community Centre (11050 90 St.)

At the strategic engagement session, participants will:

Learn about the NHSP Call for Concepts and our proposed approach to answering this Call
Contribute to a shared understanding of, and approach to, addressing the barriers and challenges to full and meaningful participation of specific groups of seniors in our community
Learn about the implementation of the Collective Impact model
Review and contribute to a Theory of Change that will support social inclusion
Review and contribute to an updated Impact Plan that lays out a framework for activities that support social inclusion
Take away an understanding of the process that ESCC is following and what the next steps will be

Contact Tim Henderson at 780-423-5635 or tim@seniorscouncil.net for more information.

A Guide to Mobility and Independence

The Medically At-Risk Driver Centre has released the 9th edition of the Guide to Mobility and Independence. The guide contains information on essential services such as meal delivery and grocery shopping, aids to daily living, home care, support groups, and transportation providers. The majority of organizations have a focus on seniors, offer in-home services, or offer seniors a discount towards their services.

The guide is available in PDF and print formats at no cost to individuals and organizations. Print copies can be ordered from Medically At-Risk Driver Centre at 780-492-6273 or mard@ualberta.ca. The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council also has copies of the print version you can pick up.

Profiling the Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector in Alberta

This discussion paper on the value and contribution of the non-profit/voluntary sector is meant to be a starting point for conversations about the role of the sector in Alberta. It describes the cultural, economic, social and political impact of the sector and examines the relationship between the government and the sector.

Nominations Open for Minister's Seniors Service Awards

The Minister’s Seniors Service Awards recognize outstanding contributions of Albertans of any age who volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of seniors.

Alberta Seniors and Housing is accepting nominations for the 2019 awards in three award categories:

Individual
Organization
Alice Modin Award

Nominees will be recognized at community celebrations to be held across Alberta during the summer. The Minister will select award recipients to be honoured at a special ceremony in the fall of 2019.

The nomination deadline is February 28, 2019.

Seniors' Week Launch

Alberta Seniors’ Week has been recognized since 1986 to celebrate the contributions seniors make to enhance the quality of life in Alberta.

Each year the Government of Alberta chooses an organization or community to co-host the Provincial Launch event for Seniors’ Week. Alberta Seniors and Housing invites proposals from municipalities, Indigenous communities and senior-serving organizations to co-host the 2019 Seniors’ Week Provincial Launch Event.

Seniors’ Week 2019 is June 2 – 8, and the provincial launch will be on Monday, June 3. If your community or organization is interested in co-hosting the provincial launch event, submit a proposal before January 21.

STEP 2019

Applications for the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) are now being accepted. STEP provides funding for eligible employers to hire high school or post-secondary students to work summer jobs from May to August. The Government of Alberta will provide employers with a wage subsidy of $7 per hour for a minimum of 30 hours per week (on average) and a maximum of 37.5 hours per week. The application deadline is February 8, 2019.

Canada Summer Jobs

The Canada Summer Jobs program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public-sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Applications are due by January 25, 2019.

Conversation Cafe Presentations

ESCC’s December Conversation Cafe – Being Smarter With Our Community Initiatives – provided an opportunity to reflect on how important it is for organizations to be nimble and open to adapting their programs as client and community needs evolve.

The event featured presentations by partners in the Pan-Edmonton Group Addressing Social Isolation of Seniors (PEGASIS). The initiative is in its third year of finding socially-isolated seniors, reaching out to them, connecting, and matching them to formal and informal supports. The partner organizations shared what they’ve learned and how they’ve adapted their programs to respond to evolving needs. The event also featured a presentation about Edmonton’s proposal for the Smart Cities Challenge. They are looking to engage seniors across Edmonton and to support their well-being with the application of appropriate technologies.

We invite you to view the video of the presentations and Q & A session and review the PowerPoint presentation to learn more.

Vital Topic: Senior Women

Edmonton Community Foundation and Edmonton Social Planning Council

Did you know that 55.6% of seniors in Edmonton are women and that part-time work is more common among senior women? The most recent Vital Topic released as part of Edmonton Vital Signs focuses on Senior Women. The document provides a snapshot of information such as income, living arrangements, health and wellness, and engagement and social isolation.

Seniors Housing Terminology

Alberta Seniors Communities & Housing Association (ASCHA) has released a What We Heard Report outlining the results of their Common Terminology Study which was completed by more than 1,000 Albertans. The study shows that seniors housing terminology is complicated, difficult to understand and overwhelming.

This study is the beginning of a framework for Albertans to speak out about their seniors housing journey and for government and industry to take notice and commit to clarifying, reducing and simplifying seniors housing terms.

ASCHA has launched the Cut The Clutter Campaign to shine a light on simplifying seniors housing terminology. You are encouraged to join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #CutTheClutter and share your experiences with navigating seniors housing terminology. ASCHA is committed to bring your voice forward to recommend better language, categories and easier navigation.