Seniors across Canada will
have an opportunity to explore and act upon the factors
that influence their health and well-being as a result of
funding provided by Health Canada. The national project, Improving
the Quality of Life of Canadian Seniors, sees
seniors themselves across Canada controlling and
directing how the project goes about exploring these
issues. In addition, an action component is written into
the project that will occur after data collection and
report writing are completed. The national project is
based at the University of Toronto.
Partnerships of seniors, university staff, service
providers, and municipal workers in Halifax, Quebec City,
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Regina, Vancouver, and
Whitehorse have developed to carry out the project. Over
the course of two years, questions to be addressed are: What
are some issues and factors affecting the quality of life
of seniors in the community? and What past and
future policy decisions have affected and will affect the
quality of life of seniors? Data from these local
projects will provide information about policies that are
affecting Canadian seniors all across the country as well
as highlighting areas of local concern.
"While there have been many projects that have
addressed seniors issues, the unique aspect of this
project is that seniors themselves will be working to
identify, describe, and act upon issues affecting their
health and well-being. They will do so in light of new
thinking about what influences healthy aging", said
Dennis Raphael of the Department of Public Health
Sciences.
Preliminary work indicates that health care, housing,
social services, transportation, and income issues may be
highlighted by the project, but the open-ended nature of
the project will allow unique issues of concern among
seniors, service providers, and municipal staff to
emerge. "Already, there has been intense interest
and support for this project from a wide range of
organizations and groups concerned with the health and
well-being of seniors. We are optimistic that the project
will influence policy decisions made at the municipal,
provincial, and federal levels across Canada" added
Reg Herman, a member of the Seniors Coordinating
Committee.
To receive ongoing information about the project and
to be put on the mailing list for newsletters and
reports,
email: d.raphael@utoronto.ca
or send your name and organization to
Seniors Participatory Project
c/o
the Centre for Health Promotion
University of Toronto
100 College Street
Suite 207
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1L5
