The NWT SeniorsSA国际影视传媒� Society and the GNWT have come to a compromise over the societySA国际影视传媒檚 wish to develop a territorial strategy for the older population.
The two parties plan to evaluate how well the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 programs and services are meeting seniorsSA国际影视传媒� needs through a report card they expect to develop in the new year.
This follows a meeting with MLAs last month where the society called for an overarching strategy that would address things like seniorsSA国际影视传媒� safety and aging in place in a more centralized way.
At the time, MLAs were skeptical the minister would commit to a new strategy with only two years left in the life of the current assembly.
SA国际影视传媒淲e recognized there was a bit of pushback on the NWT seniorsSA国际影视传媒� strategy at this point,SA国际影视传媒� said Barbara Hood, executive director of the NWT SeniorsSA国际影视传媒� Society. SA国际影视传媒淚 would say that itSA国际影视传媒檚 the best of both worlds in terms of a working relationship that will get us, in the long-term, to where we wanted to be with a seniorsSA国际影视传媒� strategy.SA国际影视传媒�
A report card seemed like a good way to help people understand exactly what issues are important to seniors and to SA国际影视传媒渄o a good analysis of where weSA国际影视传媒檙e at today,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding it was her idea.
Hood hopes the next assembly will take on the task of developing a seniorsSA国际影视传媒� strategy and use the upcoming report card to understand what work needs to be done.
She pointed last month to a 2016 strategy produced by the Alliance for a National SeniorsSA国际影视传媒� Strategy as a good starting point for a territorial version.
Glen Abernethy, minister responsible for seniors, added he canSA国际影视传媒檛 assume the next assembly will develop a seniorsSA国际影视传媒� strategy.
However, he said it will need one.
Abernethy tabled a document during the last assembly called Our Elders: Our Communities, which he said he considers the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 seniors strategy.
It includes targets for the GNWT to meet in order to provide strong care and support to elders.
SA国际影视传媒淭his work is not finite, but it has a timeline,SA国际影视传媒� said the minister. SA国际影视传媒淭he next assemblySA国际影视传媒檚 definitely going to be in a position where they need to move forward with a seniorsSA国际影视传媒� strategy and Barb suggested to me that if we want to do this right, we need to take stock of where we are, recognizing the work that weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing.SA国际影视传媒�
The report card will look at whether the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 programs and strategies are meeting seniorsSA国际影视传媒� needs and whether they are comprehensive enough.
While the GNWT doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 plan to fork over any new money for the assessment, it will look internally for resources to get it done, said Abernethy.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e certainly looking at existing resources and an existing position to help us conclude this work at this point,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding it canSA国际影视传媒檛 be done without the NWT SeniorsSA国际影视传媒� Society.
The work is expected to take place over the next two years, to be ready in time for the next assembly.
SA国际影视传媒淭he board of directors are very much behind this and seniors generally, older adults are behind this kind of work,SA国际影视传媒� said Hood. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a good, strong partnership with support from both sides.SA国际影视传媒�
