The much awaited event was co-sponsored by the Semiahmoo Peninsula Seniors Planning Table and Sources Community Resources Society.

The report which is Part 2 was unveiled in February 2012 and includes 143 findings and 176 recommendations in the four areas of Home and Community Care; Home Support; Assisted Living and Residential Care.

In the area of elder abuse which is a major advocacy issue for CARP, the report recommends the mandatory reporting of suspected abuse or neglect by home and community care staff as well as guidelines on when to report incidents to police.

It was interesting to note that the Fraser Health Authority which oversees an area from Delta to Hope with an ever-expanding increase in its senior population only increased its residential care facility numbers by 25 beds.

The Ombudsperson recommends you contact your local politicians to urge them to act upon the recommendations in this timely report.

To view document go online to www.bcombudsperson.ca or call 1-800-567-3247.

The office of the Ombudsperson is British Columbia’s independent voice for fairness working on your behalf.  Make your concerns be known.  Together we can ensure the best of care for all seniors in B.C..  Together we can get it right.

The Ontario Superior Court ruling opens the door to a possible by-election in Etobicoke Centre should the decision survive any Supreme Court appeal.

Expose yourself to 50 amazing new ideas.  50 speakers.

June 13 -15, 2012. Koerner Hall, Toronto.

For more information on Moses Znaimer’s Conference ideaccity visit ideacityonline.com

416-607-2452

As part of Vision 2057, the Town of Oakville is preparing an update to its Parks, Recreation and Library Facilities Master Plan and we want to hear from you!

Learn more at one of three upcoming open houses. You can also have your say through our online feedback form at www.oakville.ca or email your comments to prlfmp@oakville.ca.

Open Houses:

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 , 2 to 4 p.m.

Town Hall, Oakville Room

1225 Trafalgar Roa

Staff Presentation: 2-3 p.m.

Open Discussion: 3-4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 � 7 to 9 p.m.

Town Hall, Committee Rooms 1 and 2

1225 Trafalgar Road

Staff Presentation: 7-8 p.m.

Open Discussion: 8-9 p.m.�

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 � 7 to 9 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, Rehearsal Hall

2302 Bridge Road

Staff Presentation: 7-8 p.m.

Open Discussion: 8-9 p.m.

About the Parks, Recreation and Library Facilities Master Plan

The master plan was developed to assist decision-makers, stakeholders, and residents in understanding Oakville’s needs and priorities related to parks, recreation, and library facilities. It identifies the timing for facilities based on many criteria including community need, demands from growth and affordability. The master plan does not, however, determine the sites of new facilities.

The original Parks, Recreation and Library Facilities Master Plan (2006) led to the development of several new facilities including Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, expanded the existing parks system and created new playgrounds, splash pads and sports fields.

To review the draft Parks, Recreation and Libraries Facilities Master Plan, visit www.oakville.ca

This workshop is for family caregivers and will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s Disease, coping strategies and community resources.

Monday, June 4th.  1:30pm – 4:00pm

20 Eglinton Ave W.  16th floor.  Yonge & Eglinton

Register with Indra at 416-640-6307

Learn practical steps that you can take that may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as maintain or improve your brain health.

Wednesday, June 13th.   2pm – 3pm.

20 Eglinton Ave W.  16th Floor.  Yonge & Eglinton

Register with Indra at 416-640-6307

Your Chapter Chair

Bruce Draper

Susan Eng, vice-president of advocacy for CARP, says its members have traditionally leaned toward the Conservatives.

OTTAWA—CARP, the national seniors group, says for the first time in four years its members are expressing more support for the federal New Democrats than Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

An internal poll of 2,600 CARP members found support for the NDP has risen to 39 per cent, substantially above 31 per cent support for the Conservatives. The Liberals trailed at 25 per cent, CARP said.

The shift in CARP members’ political support is a major change, said Susan Eng, vice-presidency for advocacy.

“In our internal polls, the NDP always languished way behind as a distant third,” Eng said in an interview. “That stands to reason. We’ve got a very conservative-leaning crowd.”

For much of the past year, support for the Conservatives has hovered above 50 per cent, CARP said.

But that started to change when Harper unexpectedly announced in January the Conservative government planned in future to raise the age of eligibility for Old Age Security payments — a move put in place in the March 29 federal budget.

And in a development CARP called a “political game-changer,” the Harper government’s use of an omnibus budget bill to rewrite dozens of laws has prompted intense opposition from seniors.

“The vast majority (85 per cent) of CARP members reject the bundling of so many issues within Bill C-38, and as many as three quarters express their opinion in the strongest terms,” the group said.

“The strength and speed of the rejection of the omnibus (budget) bill is actually greater than their opposition to the OAS changes themselves for which there was still a core group of supporters (25 per cent) who said they would vote with the government regardless and/or accepted the government’s arguments,” CARP said. “This speaks to the strong support that CARP members have for our parliamentary processes and institutions that matter, if possible, even more than their concern for the social safety net.”

On Monday, CARP sent an open letter to Members of Parliament urgng them to support motions to hive off the OAS changes from Bill C-38 into separate legislation. During last year’s election, the letter noted, Harper did not mention any plans to change the OAS program.

“CARP members would be shattered to learn that such a fundamental part of our social safety net was rushed through Parliament on the strength of the government’s parliamentary majority alone, without adequate opportunity for full debate,” Eng said in the letter.

Earlier this week, the Conservatives held closed-door discussions with the NDP on the possibility of splitting up the budget implementation legislation into separate bills. But Conservative House leader Peter Van Loan said Wednesday the government was rejecting the NDP request. The government says MPs will have adequate time to examine and debate Bill C-38 and it is important to move ahead quickly with measures the Conservatives say will help the economy.

The following is quoted from the Mississuga Halton LHIN.

Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (MH LHIN) is pleased to announce the creation of a new program in a long-term care home that will improve care for vulnerable clients.

The Extendicare Integrated Partnership will allow Peel Halton Dufferin Acquired Brain Injury Services (PHDABIS) to provide additional supports to aging individuals affected by acquired brain injury (ABI) and requiring long-term care.

This “right care, right support‟ partnership will ensure that there is enhanced capacity in the region so that residents of the LHIN can get this specialized care close to home when they need it.

Please go to  www.mississaugahaltonlhin.on.ca/   and click on Newsroom to see the news release announcing the creation of this important new program that provides the long-term care setting increased resources to care for clients, thereby reducing unnecessary hospital emergency visits and strengthening the system to better meet the needs of our vulnerable seniors.