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Seniors’ services evaluation on horizon

The NWT Seniors’ Society and the GNWT have come to a compromise over the society’s wish to develop a territorial strategy for the older population.

Glen Abernethy, minister responsible for seniors, said a report card will help the next assembly create a territorial strategy for seniors. NNSL file photo

The two parties plan to evaluate how well the government’s programs and services are meeting seniors’ 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 seniors’ 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.

“We recognized there was a bit of pushback on the NWT seniors’ strategy at this point,” said Barbara Hood, executive director of the NWT Seniors’ Society. “I would say that it’s 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 seniors’ strategy.”

Barbara Hood, executive director of the NWT Seniors’ Society, said she suggested a report card to evaluate government programs and services for seniors, after “pushback” against creating a territorial seniors’ strategy. NNSL file photo

A report card seemed like a good way to help people understand exactly what issues are important to seniors and to “do a good analysis of where we’re at today,” she said, adding it was her idea.

Hood hopes the next assembly will take on the task of developing a seniors’ 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 Seniors’ Strategy as a good starting point for a territorial version.

Glen Abernethy, minister responsible for seniors, added he can’t assume the next assembly will develop a seniors’ 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 territory’s seniors strategy.

It includes targets for the GNWT to meet in order to provide strong care and support to elders.

“This work is not finite, but it has a timeline,” said the minister. “The next assembly’s definitely going to be in a position where they need to move forward with a seniors’ 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 we’re doing.”

The report card will look at whether the government’s programs and strategies are meeting seniors’ needs and whether they are comprehensive enough.

While the GNWT doesn’t plan to fork over any new money for the assessment, it will look internally for resources to get it done, said Abernethy.

“We’re certainly looking at existing resources and an existing position to help us conclude this work at this point,” he said, adding it can’t be done without the NWT Seniors’ Society.

The work is expected to take place over the next two years, to be ready in time for the next assembly.

“The board of directors are very much behind this and seniors generally, older adults are behind this kind of work,” said Hood. “It’s going to be a good, strong partnership with support from both sides.”