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PAST Newsletters>
Sunburst 14
October 30, 2008
NOTICE
of a Special Meeting of the Society
Please be advised that the Board of Directors have called a Special meeting of the Society to amend the current By-Laws of the
Alberta Seniors United Now Society.
The Board of Directors proposes to change Article IV – meeting, section 8 to reduce the membership quorum from 200 to 100 members.
This meeting is scheduled for:
Wednesday November 26, 2008
Radisson Hotel 4440 Gateway Blvd, Edmonton
9:30 AM – 10:30AM registration
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM keynote speaker
11:30 AM – 12:00 noon Business meeting
12:00 - 1:30 PM Light Lunch & member networking
YOUR ATTENDENCE IS URGENTLY REQUIRED so that a quorum of 200 members can be achieved and our business meeting can proceed.
Presidents Report:
Your Board of Directors urgently requires your attendance at a Special Meeting of the Society, scheduled for November 26/2008. The purpose of this special meeting of the Society is to amend the current bylaws. The By-Laws change being proposed is to reduce the quorum requirement of members from 200 to 100.
We have been unable to garner a quorum of two Hundred (200) members at the last two Annual General Meetings (April 17, 2007 & April 17, 2008). Therefore, the Board of Directors were unable to officially present our audited Financial statements conduct the business of SUN, to involve the membership in voting on issues our society should be addressing and in electing new Board members.
The current Board of Directors placed the issue of Quorum requirements to the April 17, 2008 society meeting and the Board was directed, by consensus, to proceed as quickly as possible to change the current quorum requirements. The November 26, 2008 special meeting is in response to that straw vote.
It is imperative that SUN remain a truly member driven society, that we hold legally constituted Annual General Meetings and that members are able to vote on motions from the Board and from the floor. Setting the quorum requirements at 100 members does not mean that we cannot attract attendance far in excess of 100 members. It merely sets a number that allows for broad discussions and sufficient attendance to represent the membership in general and makes the meeting legally binding.
The current Board of Directors cannot move forward until such time as we hold a legally constituted meeting of 200 members. It will require 200 members and agreement by three quarters (3/4) of the members present to change the by-laws. Once changed, we can then proceed to register the change and then to operate within the revised by-laws.
In conjunction with this special meeting, the Board is pleased to present a keynote speaker. Mr. Frank Work - Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta will speak regarding seniors’ privacy issues. Also there will be a light lunch available following the business component of the meeting. We trust this day will be both informative and enjoyable.
Please plan on attending. Tell your friends and bring them with you. It will be a morning of education, business, socialization and above all enjoyment. Take this opportunity to meet the Board and socialize with your fellow members.
Mark November 26, 2008 on your calendars!!!
Gordon Voth,
President - Alberta Seniors United Now
2008 Proposed By-Law amendment
WHERE AS:
The 1879 current voting members of Alberta Seniors United Now reside throughout the Province and are not always able to attend an Annual general Meeting.
WHERE AS:
Alberta Seniors United Now was unable to achieve a quorum at the April 17, 2007 and the April 17, 2008 Annual general meetings.
WHERE AS:
By a straw vote at the April 17, 2008 Annual general meeting the Board of Directors were encouraged to hold a Special Meeting to present a quorum amendment from 200 members to 100 members.
Therefore be it resolved that:
The Board of directors moves that Article IV, section 6 be amended to change the membership quorum from two hundred (200) to one hundred (100).
Proposed amended section:
6. The majority of the Board of Directors and one hundred (100) of the general membership shall constitute a quorum at any general or special meeting.
Alberta Seniors United Now
part-time position of Executive Director
Duties to include:
Reporting to the President, the Executive Director will be responsible for promoting SUN’s vision, mission, and objectives.
? Promote an effective media relations program
? Develop strategic alliances with other Senior’s groups
? Enhancement of SUN’s public image
? Liaison with existing Seniors groups and Government officials
? Lead the process of membership growth
? Responsible for operational effectiveness
Preference will be given to individuals that have the following qualifications:
Post secondary education, experience in the human services sector, knowledge of government departments and those that have worked with a volunteer Board of Directors. Highly developed oral and written communication skills are critical.
This position would be most suitable for a semi-retired public spirited individual.
Final date for acceptance of applications is November 17, 2008
Please reply in confidence to:
Chairperson - Search Committee for Executive Director
Alberta Seniors United Now
#15, 2016 Sherwood Drive
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X3
Telephone 780-449-1816 Fax 780-449-1475 Email: unitenow@telus.net
Scooters & Mobility Issues
Today seniors’ want to remain independent – older people with mobility limitations wish to be able to move freely in their local community.
It is not surprising that in the last few years there has been growth in the development of a variety mobility aids; wheel chairs for example have become motorized and easy to use. Now we have yet another major development – the motorized scooter! We see more of them everyday but with progress there are operating implications. Although a scooter cannot travel at great speeds – it moves at a reasonable rate, it can travel on a sidewalk and when the need arises on a road. However there are no rules or regulations that govern the operation of such a piece of equipment – currently scooters are regarded as pedestrian devices.
Lise Storgaard of Seniors United Now is our valued representative on the Edmonton Seniors’ Coordinating Council Transportation Committee. She became aware of issues that have arisen concerning scooters. Lise did some investigation and has provided us with some pertinent information about this latest transportation development.
Liz Allchin Director Seniors United Now
Lise Storgaard talks with Healthcare Solutions president Brian Scherba about scooter purchase options during a visit to the store’s Southside location at 5405 - 99 Ave.
Public education the first step in addressing issues, says seniors advocate
By Rich Gossen - ESCC Communications Coordinator
Lise Storgaard is well aware of the advantages provided by scooters for persons with mobility issues.
The Seniors United Now representative on Edmonton’s Seniors Transportation Steering Committee became an advocate on issues related to scooter use years ago following an accident that temporarily incapacitated her daughter.
Now that Storgaard is trying to deal with her own medical issues and has been advised to consider getting a scooter to help her get around, she is finding that there still isn’t much understanding and acceptance of these mobility aids in public places.
Resistance
Though, from the operator’s standpoint, scooters have become potentially more comfortable and more stable (less prone to tipping over), thereby making it easier for someone like herself to shop and travel greater distances than would previously have been possible or advisable, these advantages are counterbalanced by the “nightmare” of trying to navigate grocery store isles crowded by displays of merchandise and the lack of acceptance of scooters by many seniors residences.
Hardly any seniors lodges welcome scooters, she says, and even those that do require a lot of consultation before providing consent.
Then there’s the problem, in older buildings, of finding parking spaces for scooters. Rooms are often small and, if the scooter is left outdoors, the owner has to worry about theft and vandalism.
Scooters can’t be parked in residence hallways because of fire regulations.
Some coffee shops appear to try and get rid of customers on scooters because of the amount of space they take up, and some storeowners don’t even want scooters left on the sidewalk in front of their place of business.
Newer lodges, and those that recognize the benefits of walkers, wheelchairs and scooters for their residents, make efforts to accommodate them even though they take up a lot of space. The newer walkers are wider and deeper than the earlier models, Storgaard points out, and wheelchairs have more padding than was once the case, making them bigger as well.
This makes them more comfortable for users and also provides benefits for the residences, since more padding makes it less likely that walls will be scratched or other forms of damage will occur, but often the “disadvantages” are given more weight in public opinion than the “advantages”.
Public education the first step…continued
Safety
Safety considerations, on the other hand, still aren’t getting much attention, Storgaard says. Increased availability of scooters and more purchase options haven’t translated into driver training. Many seniors are simply advised to take their scooter out and “play with it” until they’re comfortable with its use.
With common sense often in short supply, safety becomes a financial issue, she points out. While lawsuits over collisions with other scooters or pedestrians aren’t widespread, they’re not unheard of either.
Some residences attempt to minimize the potential for collisions and other mishaps during peak periods such as meal times by providing “valet parking”. That is, staff removes walkers and scooters from the dining area after seniors have taken their place at the table, parking the aids in a safe place in the centre or at the edges of the room, and bring the devices back to their owners after meals are completed.
But potentially more serious collisions can occur when scooters are operated outdoors. Storgaard points to an incident in Edmonton a little over a year ago in which an operator was hit in a crosswalk by a delivery truck backing up to exit a parking lot. The incident resulted in the death of the scooter operator after he was caught under the truck’s wheels and dragged.
Solutions
So what’s the answer to addressing these issues?
It starts with more education leading to greater awareness and acceptance of the needs of others, Storgaard says.
Should seniors on scooters be accommodated on bike paths?
Do high pedestrian areas such as 82 Avenue(Edmonton), as well as sporting events and parks; need to set aside areas for scooter parking?
Do we need to look more closely at Alzheimer’s and dementia as these conditions apply to use of scooters?
Are individuals with these conditions able to recognize the dangers of turning too sharply or veering too far left or right and hitting other people or objects?
Should scooters be considered motorized vehicles, thereby requiring operators to pass a driving test and perhaps get insurance, or should operators be considered pedestrians, as they now are in the Province of Alberta?
Edmonton aims to become a more walkable community and yet it doesn’t seem to recognize the needs of seniors who wish to continue “walking” as long as possible by using mobility aids, Storgaard says.
What policies are going to be put in place to address, and encourage others to address, mobility issues? How is the need for scooter parking areas in public places going to be accommodated?
Very few people are even asking these questions, she says. Yes, seniors sometimes create their own problems through inappropriate actions, she acknowledges. There’s even a term for it: “senior bullying”. Seniors can be too aggressive with each other even with walkers, let alone scooters.
And yes, in order for lodges and other residences to accommodate scooters, staff may be inconvenienced by a shift in job responsibilities. But mobility is a right, Storgaard says: a right that needs to be regulated so that mobility occurs in an orderly fashion and a right that needs to be pursued with consideration for others, but a right nonetheless.
Residences shouldn’t be allowed to refuse potential clients due to their use of mobility aids (waiting lists are “phenomenal” at the best of times, she notes, and no one should be placed at an additional disadvantage).
Where’s the sensitivity to the needs of others, she asks. And where’s the recognition by those who enforce rules and procedures that they, in the not too distant future, may well require mobility aids themselves?
Managers and caregivers need help in dealing with the issues, developers and builders need to recognize the new reality of space requirements and movement patterns, and legislators need to look at revising codes and regulations in response to the realities of the new millennium.
Making laws and regulations universal will help to make things easier for everyone, Storgaard says.
Residences struggling to cope with seniors scooters
By Rich Gossen
ESCC Communications Coordinator
Seniors who are considering buying or renting a three or four-wheeled scooter may find the information they’re getting from usually reliable sources is somewhat disconnected from the “reality” they’ll discover in their communities.
The Public Health Agency of Canada’s “guide to choosing and using assistive devices”, for example, focuses on empowering information that will help seniors, veterans, individuals with a disability and their caregivers find “the right solutions”.
The guide is full of emphatic statements such as, “This process is about your life, your activities and your lifestyle!” “Don’t believe your troubles can’t be solved. They can!” “Never just accept things as they are. Almost anything is possible today!
“Don’t think you must accept a solution if you don’t feel it’s the right one,” the guide goes on to say. “You’re the only person who knows what’s right for you.”
The benefits of assistive devices include maintaining independence, conserving energy and reducing dependence on family and caregivers, the guide points out.
“Yours and others’ perception of your disability and of assistive devices has an impact on your self-confidence, your social relations and your ability to cope with activities.”
This view is reinforced by other organizations such as Alberta Easter Seals. It received a $33,000 grant from a foundation in Calgary last year to purchase scooters for 14 seniors with disabilities. Without this gift, these seniors would be isolated from their communities, the January 2007 Easter Seals eNewsletter states. “Scooters can be the only means of mobility for many people, providing freedom and independence. (Scooters) allow people to access community services and social activities, engage in volunteerism and family outings, and add to their greater health and mental well-being.”
One recipient talked about her scooter enriching her life by enabling her to get groceries on her own, do her personal banking, see more of her neighborhood and spend time in nearby parks.
Claims
Which brings us back to the disconnect between those who point out the benefits and advantages of scooters and those who express concern for safety in environments in which scooters share space with other pedestrians.
Mike Caverhill, special project coordinator for driver programs and licensing standards with Alberta Transportation, notes that persons using mobility aids are classified, under the province’s Traffic Safety Act, as pedestrians.
“There are no requirements for an operator's licence, registration, insurance, helmet or vehicle equipment.” Operators must follow all restrictions that apply to pedestrians but beyond that do not require training.
“To the best of my knowledge,” he says, “there isn't an active review of the mobility aid issue.”
While incidents such as the death of an elderly Victoria-area man last year, who was caught under the wheels of a dump truck while driving his new scooter, make the headlines, safety issues of a less dramatic nature concern the managers of at least some seniors residences in Edmonton.
Concerns
Meadowcroft Seniors Residence banned scooters effective July 31 and took a lot of flack for doing so, says director Reg Appleyard. Nonetheless, he stands behind the assertion that scooters are dangerous.
Even if the injuries caused aren’t life-threatening, having your toes run over isn’t any fun. This happened to quite a few people, he says, and it reached the point where some residents were living in fear and staying in their rooms rather than risk attending social events and activities.
When you have 450 residents and only 10 have scooters but are affecting the quality of life of everyone else, something has to be done, Appleyard points out. Meadowcroft doesn’t take issue with residents who require mobility aids for health reasons, but the people who enjoy scooters as a “toy” tend to do so because the devices accelerate quickly and travel at high speeds. And it’s these very qualities that increase the danger associated with their use. Scooters track in mud, wreck carpets and bang into walls, Appleyard says, but these are minor irritants that can be fixed. It’s not nearly as easy to “fix a person” who has been hit or run over. Seniors apartments such as Meadowcroft come under the jurisdiction of the Residential Tenancies Act, he adds, and it places the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of residents on the landlord. Failure to act responsibly could result in penalties.
Meadowcroft promises its tenants a safe, independent living experience and allowing scooters to jeopardize these good intentions can’t be tolerated.
Residences struggling to cope with seniors scooters…continued
Space
Kiwanis Place Retirement Homes, which is classified as a lodge rather than an apartment, does allow scooters, says assistant manager Mary Hillman, but only after the resident has obtained permission.
“We want to make sure that people actually need them,” she says.
Safety is a factor, and operators are advised they must handle their scooters responsibly and with respect for others, but the main issue the lodge faces is lack of space. Residents who need scooters must store them in their rooms, even though these are relatively small, because fire regulations do not permit hallways to be blocked. Smaller lodges have sometimes had to decline residents who require mobility aids simply due to lack of space, she says.
Kiwanis Place doesn’t have room for scooters in its dining area and driving scooters off of elevators sometimes creates problems, particularly if the operator isn’t careful enough about checking for people who are waiting to get on. The lodge doesn’t have a garage or covered area outside where operators can park their scooters and this sometimes factors into the decision not to buy one, Hillman says. Most rooms are bachelor apartments, which makes them susceptible to damage if operators don’t exercise caution. One resident put his scooter through his closet doors while he was learning to operate it and he had to pay to have the doors replaced. The lodge now has a clause in its tenancy agreement covering scooters and the damage they cause.
Renate Sainsbury, with Lifestyle Options, hasn’t noticed a dramatic increase in the number of people wanting to use scooters to maintain their independence but those that do must abide by an agreement that is part of their lease package. The agreement looks at risk and liability, and requires that scooters be operated safely. Residents may have to submit to an assessment by an occupational therapist if deemed necessary. “We have suites that can accommodate scooters, as they have storage (spaces) that hold a scooter, and also our dining rooms are being made larger to accommodate scooters and electric wheelchairs. “We can deal with issues, as we have made the agreement part of the lease package. “We also let people know that they can park (their scooters) downstairs in the winter months.”
Study
The emerging issues of older residences struggling to deal with newer forms of conveyance that require more space than is available, and of all residences wishing to protect their residents from danger, point to the need for more study.
An indication of how little the issues have been studied comes from the director of the University College of the Fraser Valley’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging.
Dr. Pieter Steyn believes that UCFV researchers initiated the first study of its kind in Canada when they began looking at safety issues related to three and four-wheel scooters late last year.
He raises the question of whether scooters should be driven on a sidewalk or in a bike lane. “And who has the right of way: the cyclist, the pedestrian, or the scooter?
“There are issues with safety, driver fitness, and even insurance,” he adds.
The UCFV study will examine whether scooter users should be assessed before they purchase one, whether scooters need to be registered, the speed they travel at, and whether they should be insured in some form.
“From a research point of view we want to have a very good understanding of where people go with these, why they go somewhere with a scooter, whether it’s their only way to get around, and whether they use these at night or in inclement weather.”
Steyn hopes than CERA can eventually develop recommendations and draft guidelines that will establish policy framework and educational programs related to use of mobility scooters.
Casino… update
Casino funds are administered by Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission; funds are pooled on a quarterly basis and distributed to the organizations that were approved to work the casinos during that time period.
As expected we received our pooling cheque from AGLC in August in the amount of $78,653.09 These funds may only be used within the approved AGLC guidelines.
SUN will be using these funds to assist with communication, education & participation efforts.
Once again a huge thank-you to all those volunteers that worked the casino weekend, special thanks to former Executive Director Ron Ellis for all his hard work during the application process & SUN Director Barrie Pratt for acting as Casino Chairman.
Cash Raffle #6
Sun Fall into Cash Raffle
Congratulations to the winners of yet another successful cash raffle. With almost 800 tickets sold three lucky SUN members each received over $525.00 congratulations to:
Ticket#29 - B.Brown of St.Albert,
Ticket #713 - E.Orfino of Edmonton
Ticket #580 - D/M Mazeppa of Edmonton
A special thanks to the hundreds of SUN members that bought & sold the cash raffle tickets. Thanks to you… over $1,900.00 was raised for SUN.
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