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Political Advocacy Committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Mission
Our mission is to inform you, our members, about political issues that are crucial to you and your future. We do this by collecting and sharing information about concerns that are vital to retired teachers and all seniors. Central to our mandate is to advocate on your behalf by bringing our concerns to the attention of our elected representatives, and to encourage you to do the same. The COVID-19 pandemic has made long-term care in Ontario and across Canada our special focus at this time.THE ISSUES - MOST RECENT POSTINGS
Solving the Municipal Housing Problem Means Providing Affordable and Accessible Options for Older Adults
Jun 2, 2022
Source: The Council on Aging of Ottawa
> DETAILS HERE
This long-term care home radically changed the way it operates. Residents say it's working
2022 11 23
Source: CBC News
> DETAILS HERE
RTOERO signs joint letter expressing concern over Bill 7 in Ontario
Bill 7 amends the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, to authorize the admission and transfer of patients currently occupying an Alternative Level of Care (ALC) bed in a hospital to a long-term care home without their consent. This means individuals can be moved to a long-term care home they haven’t chosen and may be moved a greater distance from their family and social supports.
Source: RTOERO Vibrant Voices
> DETAILS HERE
Ottawa hospitals need to hire 3000 more staff each year to deal with record turnover and resignations, increased patient needs and rising paramedic offload delays
From The Canadian Union of Public Employees, Sep 13, 2022
> DETAILS HERE
“Rife with discrimination against the elderly,” Bill 7 prompts advocates to escalate call for Human Rights Commission investigation into systemic ageism in Ontario health policy
From The Canadian Union of Public Employees, August 31, 2022
> DETAILS HERE
RTOERO Provincial Advocacy Page
We speak up on issues that affect Canadians – at any age
How to advocate for issues that matter to you
How to advocate for issues that matter to you
Find your Mayor and City Councillors
Mayor and City Councillors
Find your ward and Councillor
Source: The City of Ottawa
Find your Member of the Provincial Legislature
Find your MPP on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario website.
Source: Government of Ontario
The Report of the Auditor General of Ontario
December 1, 2021
The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario
Annual Report
“Our work holds the organizations we audit accountable for their operations, helping to ensure that Ontarians receive the most benefit possible from Ontario’s public programs and services.”
Bonnie Lysyk (MBA, FCPA, FCA, LPA), Auditor General.
You can reach us by telephone at (416) 327-2381, or call our public inquiry line at (416) 314-5772. You can also email us at comments@auditor.on.ca.
This report makes excellent reading. It is not a dry document for specialists! All citizens of Ontario, especially seniors, should at least browse through it.
Explore the report at:
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arbyyear/ar2021.html
Below are some highlights from the report:
News Release: Ontario Has Programs To Help People Who Need Assisted Living Services, But It Doesn’t Know If They Work: Auditor General
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/21_newsreleases/2021_news_AR_AssistedLiving.pdf
Audit at a Glance: Assisted Living Services
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/21_summaries/2021_summary_AR_AssistedLiving.pdf
The Report in Detail: Auditor General
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en21/AR_AssistedLiving_en21.pdf
News Release: Stroke and Cardiac Emergency Treatment in Ontario Should be Faster and Better: Auditor General
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/21_newsreleases/2021_news_AR_Cardiac.pdf
Audit at a Glance: Cardiac Disease and Stroke Treatment
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/21_summaries/2021_summary_AR_Cardiac.pdf
The Report in Detail: Auditor General
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en21/AR_Cardiac_en21.pdf
News Release: Ontarians are Still Waiting Too Long for Outpatient Surgery: Auditor General
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/21_newsreleases/2021_news_AR_Outpatient.pdf
Audit at a Glance: Outpatient Surgeries
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/21_summaries/2021_summary_AR_Outpatient.pdf
The Report in Detail: Auditor General
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en21/AR_Outpatient_en21.pdf
Final Report of the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission
Some official reports are boring to read, but there is nothing dull about this one. It is intensely interesting and written in a clear and lively style. The Commission has produced a complete account of the tragedy that occurred in long-term care homes during the pandemic. The report also explains how chronic weaknesses in our long-term care system caused this tragedy and tells us what we need to do about it. All of its pages will fascinate you. Others will leave you saddened, touched or angry, but with a much better understanding of long-term care in Ontario. Everyone should read it.
> Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission: final report and progress on interim recommendations
> Ontario's COVID-19 Final Report - Download PDF copy
> National Standards for Long-Term Care Discussion Paper
Office of the Auditor General of Ontario
COVID-19 Preparedness and Management
Special Report on Pandemic Readiness and Response in Long-Term Care, April 2021
Canadian Medical Association (CMA)
National Standards for Long-Term Care Discussion Paper
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/viewer?file=%2fdocuments%2fPolicyPDF%2fPD21-02.pdf#phrase=false
French Health Network
https://francosantesud.ca/en/best-practices/a-guide-for-planning-and-providing-francophone-long-term-care-services/
Safe Restart Agreement
https://www.canada.ca/en/intergovernmental-affairs/services/safe-restart-agreement.html
A Comprehensive Overview of Long-Term Care in Ottawa
> coaottawa.ca/committees/health/long-term-care-in-ottawa/
Long-term care homes in Canada: How many and who owns them?
This Canadian Institute for Health Information site is regularly updated and contains a huge amount of data on all aspects of health care in Canada.
> cihi.ca/en/long-term-care-homes-in-canada-how-many-and-who-owns-them
Ready to Act? Contact your elected official
> coaottawa.ca/we-need-change-now/#ContactOfficial
How Does Canada Compare with Other Countries?
> cihi.ca/sites/default/files/document/covid-19-rapid-response-long-term-care-snapshot-en.pdf
PADD – Prevention, Awareness, Deterrence, and Detection
> longtermcareinquiry.ca/en/final-report/
Facing Up to Canada’s Long-Term Care Policy Crisis
> policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/may-2020/facing-up-to-canadas-long-term-care-policy-crisis/
“Staffing is essential to meet the needs of all long-term care residents across Ontario”
> ontario.ca/page/long-term-care-staffing-study
Long-Term Care Homes Act 2007
> ontario.ca/laws/regulation/100079
Our PAC Terms of Reference
- To identify and monitor external organizations and issues related to retirees, seniors and pensioners and to recommend initiatives to the District 27 Council or Executive.
- To monitor the provincial education system as it relates to RTOERO Policies and to recommend initiatives to the District 27 Council or Executive.
- To identify and provide issues, strategies and resources related to District 27 advocacy including federal, provincial and municipal elections.
- To cooperate with the provincial Political Advocacy Committee and other District Political Advocacy Committees.
- To monitor legislative agenda related to defined benefit pension plans that may affect any pension plans of our current or prospective members and to make recommendations to the District 27 Council or Executive.
ARCHIVES
Long-Term Care
Looking beyond COVID-19
Experts in long-term care, Dr. Paula Rochon, Dr. Nathan Stall and Barbara Miszkiel urge the following building standards for LTC homes.
1. Private rooms to lower anxiety, improve sleep and reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
2. Smaller groupings of only 10 to 12 residents per floor. Residents with dementia do better in smaller social groupings.
3. Spaces that increase social interaction and stimulation.
Long-term care homes designed on these principles were far more effective in controlling COVID-19.
Read their article, ‘Rebuilding long-term care from the ground up" at the link below.
> rtoero.ca/rebuilding-long-term-care-from-the-ground-up/
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