Consultation focuses on seniors’ issues

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

With the Bouchard-Taylor Commission hearings on reasonable accommodation taking the media spotlight in past months, many people may not know about another public consultation that has been traveling across Quebec since the end of August.

The provincial public consultation on the living conditions of senior citizens will be making its final stop this Friday in Dorval. According to Marguerite Blais, the minister responsible for seniors, the upcoming West Island stop was added to the calendar due to high response in the 25 cities the commission has visited since Aug. 26.

“Over 4,000 people came out,” Blais said, adding the Dorval location was chosen with the hopes more anglophones will make their opinions heard. “Anglophone people didn’t really come out for the Montreal consultations, and we really want to hear them.”

The consultation’s goal is to find out the concerns people have about issues that affect senior citizens, and use the information obtained to make better decisions in the future.

According to Blais, there have been two main issues that have stood out since the consultations began.

“Senior citizens want to be more considered for what they do in life. They want to feel they are part of society,” she said, adding this also has to do with overcoming prejudices about senior citizens. “Some people might believe they cost too much and are a burden on society, for example. It’s just not true.”

Secondly, many of the seniors who have attended the consultations said they would like to have more services available to them in their homes.

“They want to stay home as long as possible,” Blais said.

Ann Davidson, head of the West Island Community Resource Centre and interim president for the Table de concertation sur les besoins des aînés de l’Ouest de l’Île (West Island roundtable on seniors needs), said one of the main issues touching seniors in the West Island is isolation, which also ties in largely with transportation.

“In our area, (isolation) is an issue, because public transportation can be complex for seniors. It’s not that simple to get around the territory to medical treatments or to recreational and activity facilities, so there is a tendency for them not to get out, because they can’t get out,” Davidson said, adding social contact is vital for mental health among seniors. She, like Blais, also pointed out the home care issue. “The CLSCs don’t have a big enough budget to offer enough home support after hospital stays, for example.”

Blais hopes to see a high turnout at the consultation’s Dorval stop.

“I hope West Islanders express themselves on Nov. 16,” she said. “This is the first time in Quebec we’re doing something like this for seniors. It’s my work 24 hours a day. The best way to make good decisions is to listen to the people. Seniors living conditions are something that affects everyone.”

“The government is reaching its hand out to the community to allow people to speak,” agreed Davidson. “It’s also important for (seniors) to get out to see that they’re not alone in their worry about issues that are related to themselves.”

Friday’s consultation will take place between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Sarto Desnoyers Community Centre, 1335 Lakeshore Dr. in Dorval. Anyone wishing to present their thoughts must register 30 minutes prior to the start of the session. For more information, visit www.consultationpublique-aines.gouv.qc.ca or call 1-866-255-9109.