Blog

Details: Published: 18 December 2020

Generational Allies is a workshop development project in support of older LGBQT2I+ inclusion, led by Onmyplanet.ca, in partnership with the Victoria Lesbian Care Society and funded by New Horizons for Seniors. The workshops will emanate from personal experience stories recorded specifically for this project, and will be delivered by older LGBQT2I+ volunteer facilitators to a wider population of seniors and elders.

The first step in this project is the Generational Allies Survey. The survey will help to determine which issues related to aging, most affect older LGBQT2I+ folks in our communities, and therefore will help to direct the development of the workshop materials. Participants from across Canada are welcome.

Learn more about the project and how to participate at: https://onmyplanet.ca/generational-allies

Details: Published: 18 December 2020

From the National Institute on Ageing

mycovidrisk image

In November, the National Institute on Ageing released myCOVIDVisitRisk, an online decision aid designed by Dr. Samir Sinha and a team of experts to assist individuals, families, and friends in considering the risks associated with visiting with others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In all cases, Canadians are urged to follow all official COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions, but for people who need to care for others, or who live in areas with few restrictions, this tool will help assess the risks of visiting with others.

Using the best available scientific evidence and the input of leading experts in infectious diseases and epidemiology, this website has been designed to help people of different ages and states of health figure out how to more safely visit with others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By working through the questions of this online decision aid, the NIA’s aim is to prepare you and your loved ones to better discuss the potential risks and benefits of visiting with each other and in the end make a well-informed choice on how to make any necessary visits as safe as possible.

Access myCOVIDVisitRisk here.

Details: Published: 09 December 2020

The United Nations Charter recognizes the “fundamental human rights, and the dignity and worth of the human person”. Over the years, special UN Conventions, addressing the rights of Women, Children, Indigenous Persons and Persons with Disabilities, have been developed and adopted. To this day, there is still no Convention uplifting the rights of Older People, despite persistent calls from numerous organizations around the world and in Canada.

On December 2, EAPO and CNPEA hosted a panel conversation to hear from several Canadian experts who are working hard to support the development of a Convention. The session addressed the situation in long term care, the link between Covid-19 and the mistreatment of older people, ageism, and the protection of rights throughout the life course. 400 people joined the session and participated in a lively Q&A afterwards. Many of you asked what you can do to help support the call for a Convention.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO

The International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC) has initiated a letter-writing campaign to engage the government and request their support for a Convention. A ready-to-use letter is available on their homepage.

Send an email to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Seniors, with a short personal endorsement. Attach the letter to your email. Copy ILC leaders Margaret Gillis and Dr. Kiran Rabheru and your local MP on the email.
If you use social media, make sure that you post about this too. Talk about the need for a Convention. Let people know about the letter campaign. Share a link to ILC’s website. Tag your MP, the Ministers and ILC in your posts. Use the hashtags #HumanRightsDay and #Standup4humanrights.

WHAT YOU NEED

Download the letter here - a French version is available here
Here is an example of personal endorsement for your email (feel free to use or edit as you see fit)

To the Honourable Ministers Champagne and Shulte,
I am writing to support the International Longevity Centre (ILC) Canada demands for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons in response to horrific human rights violations in the 2020 pandemic. I want to convey my sense of urgency that you act quickly given the pandemic numbers continue to increase. Canada has an important leadership role to play in advancing the human rights of older adults. Please demonstrate your leadership and support the UN Convention. Attached you will find the ILC letter.
Thank you,
Signature

Email addresses:

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne:
The Honourable Deb Schulte:
Margaret Gillis:
Kiran Rabheru:
Find your MP: https://www.ourcommons.ca/en/contact-us

Social media handles:

Twitter:
The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne: @FP_Champagne
The Honourable Deb Schulte: @_DebSchulte
International Longevity Canada: @ILCCanada
CNPEA: @cnpea
EAPO: @EAPreventionON

Facebook:
The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne: @FPChampagneSMC
The Honourable Deb Schulte: @DebSchulte82
International Longevity Canada: none
CNPEA: @cnpea
EAPO: @EAPreventionON

December 10 is International Human Rights Day, what better time to speak up about this? Join the campaign today, every voice counts!

Details: Published: 18 November 2020

Guest Post by Anne-Marie Monroe, Advisor, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, OBSI / OSBI

At the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI), we often hear from consumers who are confused. They need to know how to resolve their financial complaints. For 25 years, we’ve been helping consumers and financial services firms resolve disputes at no cost to consumers. While thousands of consumers from different walks of life and economic circumstances turn to us each year for assistance, older Canadians account for approximately 38% of OBSI complainants.