Seniors Leading Seniors is volunteer driven initiative lead by senior leaders who are delivering a program to learn civic engagement approaches and ensure seniors changing needs are voiced to the broader public and to elected officials throughout the South Okanagan. The program is open and accessible for the public of the South Okanagan to participate in meetings associated with the program.
The South Okanagan Region includes 7 main communities and surrounding rural populations of Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Keremeos, Princeton, Oliver and Osoyoos. The total population is 84,000. The number of older adults (over age 65) in the South Okanagan (26%) surpasses both the BC (14.6%) and Canadian (14%) percentages. These numbers of older adults will increase as the baby boomers reach age 65. Currently 48% of the residents in the South Okanagan are over age 50, compared with BC (29%) and Canada (33%). (Statistics Canada 2006 Census Data)
The high number of seniors over age 65 and the different needs of baby boomers is placing demand on Seniors Society’s and Seniors Centres and elected officials to be more effective and better address seniors issues. In order to be more effective Leadership is needed to help share information and lead the changes.
Eight Senior Leaders from the South Okanagan Seniors Wellness Society meet to learn about civic engagement and approaches to change. In the upcoming year these volunteer leaders will continue to meet and apply the approaches they’ve learned, including attending city council meetings and working with greater numbers of senior to encourage their participation in civic issues. These 8 senior leaders also work with volunteer board members and senior leaders of Seniors Centres in the South Okanagan to share information.
Program activities:
1. Working meetings of volunteer senior leaders
2. Learning for senior leaders on civic engagement and applying approaches to change with seniors
3. Meeting with elected officials and other community leaders
4. Preparing written well substantiated documentation for elected officials
5. Sharing meetings with leaders of seniors centres in the South Okanagan
6. Creating “Valley-Wide” informative newsletters for all seniors available through seniors centres.
There is a need and benefit to develop partnerships within communities and organizations. We will therefore continue to share ideas and concerns through continued meetings during the year.
In general discussions, various ideas were identified. In health care, phone support is important as is after hospitalization support. Courses in learning how to be a volunteer would be useful. It is important to get new members to stay and that includes making them feel welcome. Volunteer appreciation is also important. It is useful to have individual children and teenagers involved with the centres. To avoid conflicts amongst planned activities, calendars of planned activities could be sent to the other centres.
Funding was a big issue and some information was shared. Sources include New Horizons for Seniors, individual town councils, direct access, Vancouver Foundation, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan, BC Hydro, Telus to name just a few. It was agreed that another meeting of representatives could be held at a date, time, place as yet unknown. Wendy Weisner would make a presentation on funding issues.
By the end of the meeting it was clear that there is a commonality among various activities of the centers but that there are differences, no doubt reflecting some of the differences of the communities.
Seniors Leading Seniors is volunteer driven initiative lead by senior leaders who are delivering a program to learn civic engagement approaches and ensure seniors changing needs are voiced to the broader public and to elected officials throughout the South Okanagan. The program is open and accessible for the public of the South Okanagan to participate in meetings associated with the program.
