NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  

DATE: Jan 24, 2006      Release #4.10

 Sherwood Park, Alberta:             

Office of the Independent Seniors Advocate

 Ron Ellis, Executive Director of Seniors United Now (SUN) is pleased to advise that a presentation for the establishment of the Office of the Independent Seniors Advocate (OISA) was made to the standing Policy Committee on Health and Community Living.

 Mr. Ellis acts as the SUN representative to “A Circle of Alberta Seniors Advocacy Group Chairpersons” who has been working for two years advocating for the establishment of an Independent Seniors Advocate.

The OISA would work directly with seniors in distress and shepherd them in seeking existing resources to relieve their distress.  In addition to this individual advocacy work, the OISA would have two other critical roles.  A second function would be to refer cases of administrative unfairness to the ombudsman, or where evidence of irregularities warrants, to other appropriate authorities.  The third role would be to identify evidence grounded deficiencies or gaps in service to assist seniors in distress and advocate for eliminating those deficiencies whatever the level of government.

 In a SUN statement of support, Ellis made the following comments:

 What do we know about the co-ordination and oversight of senior’s services in the province of Alberta?

We know that there are a multitude of provincial government departments, municipal governments, Regional Health Authorities, police departments, service organizations, private facility operators and seniors groups – involved in the provision of care for seniors.  We know that the vast majority of individuals involved in the provision of care for seniors do their best within the present system.  However, we also know that there has been a growing cynicism, a growing question as to whether governments and indeed the existing system functions in the best interests of the people they serve. If this is not reality it is certainly the perception.  We know that there has been a long term growing concern about the treatment of seniors. With the aging of our population can there be any doubt that this growing concern has reached a critical mass of attention and shall very soon achieve a critical mass of support?

Seniors more than most know that the willingness and ability to adapt, are essential to longevity.

It is time to acknowledge that doing the same thing over and over again rarely results in change.  It is time to think outside of the box.  It is time for the establishment of an Independent Seniors Advocate and an Office of the Independent Seniors Advocate.

 For further information contact the S.U.N. Office             

Tel: 780.449.1816

Fax: 780.449.1475

Email: unitenow@telus.net