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Wednesday November 18 2015 21 GREAT SLAVE YELLOWKNIFE G. Abernethy Adequate housing is essential for all residents of the NWT including seniors. If re-elected I commit to working with the NWT Seniors Society to identify specific areas of con- cern so that they can be addressed individually with the appropriate departments. In addition I commit to working with ECE to ensure that subsidies such as the fuel subsidy for seniors are indexed appropriately to address increasing cost of goods and services within the NWT. C. Clarke As I have worked on the design and implementation of many housing and living options for seniors and elders I am excited to be able to continue my work in the capacity of a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Luckily we have many housing options for our seniors and elders and I look forward to being able to progress these options. Although some of the options I have designed and worked on have security integration many of our seniors and elders living in their independent dwellings many not. Far too often I have heard of elder abuse occur- ring with family and other members of various communities. This abuse needs to be dealt with through education of the community and collaboration with various organizations from the NWT Seniors Society RCMP community groups local governments and the GNWT. Seniors and elders are our priority and we need to make sure they have safe and secure places to live. This also extends to neglect which is unfortunately all too real.As MLA I would pursue the integration of elders and youth that would begin at daycare. In this capacity I would like to see daycare for children at senior and elder centres and have this integration continue into primary and second- ary school. I believe that this integration between the two generations would give us a more caring and respectful youth and people of the future as well as helping pass on our traditions. HAY RIVER NORTH R. Bouchard I know in Hay River we need more options for seniors housing. We need housing that will provide for seniors that require only some assistance. We have a lot of seniors in their homes but the only option after that is full extended care. HAY RIVER SOUTH J. Groenewegen We need to continue to plan ahead for the expansion of housing options and sustainability of seniors services in view of current and forecasted demand. B. Willows See question 1. KAM LAKE YELLOWKNIFE D. Ramsay I would have the same commitment to seniors that I have always had. We have great programs and services in the NWT but we should always be looking for ways to augment these and continue to invest in facilities for seniors. K. Testart I will work to access new funding promised by the new Government of Canada to construct affordable seniors housing spaces in Yellowknife and other communities. Our govern- ment has to step up and take action to invest in the Avens community and build more spaces for seniors to enjoy retirement in their community. My plan also calls for addition funding for energy efficient retrofits to homes and a plan to lower the cost of power by investing in clean energy solu- tions. These measures will result in a more affordable NWT that can be enjoyed by all residents. NAHENDEH K. Menicoche I strongly believe that we must return to an Elders and Seniors programming that the NWT Housing Corporation covers the cost. S. Thompson I will commit to working with the other 18 members of the 18th LegislativeAssem- bly and with the NWT Seniors Society to identify areas of concern so that they can be addressed with the appropriate Departments. RANGE LAKE YELLOWKNIFE D. Dolynny This requires a multi-prong approach. First we need to make sure we have the right amount of adequate and affordable independent housing options in all of our 33 NWT com- munities. If government is unable to commit to this task then we need to form partnerships with community stakeholders to increase our independent housing option stock. Secondly we need to make sure we have the proper wrap around services for our seniors needs that is we need an easy to access plain language culturally appropriate one stop shop for all seniors needs such as fuel subsidies home repair subsidies maintenance programs home care meal care and health and safety programs. C. Cochrane-Johnson I address some of this within my answer on question 2 but I would also support safe communities workshops for both support employees and all community mem- bers comprehensive training for front-line staff a review of the income support policies with best practice research nationally and internationally. In general we must build a renewed focus on age-friendly communities. THEBACHA M. Miltenberger See response to question 2 above. L. Sebert I support the continuance of programs that provide subsidies for fuel and municipal tax relief for seniors. Social housing for seniors must be safe affordable and built to allow aging in place. D. Jaque Affordable housing for seniors that has ground level access and is safely situated must be available in every community. I would pursue seniors housing program enhancement. YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE J. Green Many seniors want to stay in their homes but face obstacles such as the need for modifications to their homes and better resources in the community to support them to stay in them. I would like to see the GNWT work on supporting an age-friendly com- munity program. To help seniors stay in their homes I think we need to support seniors by providing rebates for home modifications such as better lighting additional railings and grab bars. This program could be administrated similar to the energy smart program. I also support enhancing the resources for seniors in the community by supporting preventative health programs. YELLOWKNIFE NORTH D. Wong Seniors need to feel safe. Its not right to have seniors laying awake wonder- ing if someone is going to break into their homes. I believe its time to seriously consider a program to subsidize security systems for seniors. Many of these programs are con- nected to first responders and could assist in the event of a fall or other injury in the home. In addition to increased safety personal security systems can also lower home insurance and therefore reduce our high cost environment and allow more seniors to stay in the NWT if they choose. C. Vanthuyne In addition to my answer above regarding Seniors Specific home reno- vations I will also work to provide quality home care support that recognizes the full range of services that seniors need in order to stay in their own homes longer. E. Castillo Most of our seniors can barely afford the cost of their homes including the maintenance and additions needed like railings and ramps as they and their homes age. Moreover seniors are becoming more vulnerable to predators including lenders who want to rob them of their home equitysavings and bury them in debt. We need to pursue a housing-health-education partnership program to help seniors remain healthy and inde- pendent for as long as possible. I would support a coordinated strategypolicy approach to ensure affordability regular housing inspections and modifications for safety and security inclusive of health e.g. regular homecare and specific education programs and see to adequate provision of fuel transportation and prescription subsidies. B. Nind Eleven percent of our population are seniors and this is increasing each year. As MLA I would support a comprehensive NWT Seniors Survey to measure factors and issues such as housing health relationships activities finances etc. This would allow detailed analysis to be put alongside issues raised by organizations individuals and advocates to subsequently have GNWT adjust program delivery to senior living realities. As well I would support a living NWT inventory of senior housing to be done each year involving the GNWT and community governments and a continuing active program to ensure that safety and affordability are maintained. YELLOWKNIFE SOUTH B. McLeod Over time services provided for seniors have evolved on an ad hoc basis. I believe it is time for the Government to take a serious look at our programs to determine the degree that they address the full spectrum of physical and social needs and work towards putting in place a comprehensive strategy for supports that that may be needed. The outcome of this work will be a NWT Seniors Strategy that addresses interagency collaboration the need for integrative policies and programs encompassing the housing social medical and educational needs of seniors and their caregivers. 4. What measures will you take to enable equal access for all NWT seniors to GNWT programs and services FRAME LAKE YELLOWKNIFE R. Erasmus We must take action to ensure equal access to all NWT seniors. Unless it has recently been done I would want to see the current programs undergo a complete review to assess if they are serving the needs of seniors and then develop a strategic plan to improve services. K. OReilly Making public programs and services equally available to all northerners across all communities is difficult and expensive but should be a fundamental goal of the Legislative Assembly. I share that goal. Achieving that goal is a matter of providing a clear statement of political intent along with appropriate resources to make it happen. It also depends on an accountability system based on an accurate assessment of results and public reporting. Meaningful consultation with affected groups including seniors is key to the proper evaluation of the effectiveness of programs and services. GREAT SLAVE YELLOWKNIFE G. Abernethy If re-elected I commit to working with the NWT Seniors Society to identify areas where seniors may be experiencing difficulty accessing GNWT pro- grams and services and bringing those to the 18th Legislative Assembly for action and answers. C. Clarke I think that Government Services Officers within the communities can be more engaged and work with seniors. Although we have many great people working with our seniors and elders a single point of contact within their respective communities is paramount. We also need to ensure that we develop a strategy to integrate govern- ment and community support with seniors and elders needs. Collaboration between governments and community organizations is key to ensure seniors and elders can access programs and services. HAY RIVER NORTH R. Bouchard Equal access is difficult in all our 33 communities It is difficult and costly to have the same service as in Yellowknife. If equal access is referring to the elimination of income testing I do not think that with the growth in the seniors over the next few years that we can remove income testing. We need to support our seniors where we can. HAY RIVER SOUTH J. Groenewegen I support the startup of an office providing a Seniors Advocate to work on behalf of all seniors in accessing GNWT services. B. Willows See question 1. KAM LAKEYELLOWKNIFE D. Ramsay Equal access should always be a goal we strive toward. We must continue to provide as many of these programs and services territory wide as we can. K. Testart I will pilot a Wellness Navigator Program that serves as a single point of en- try for all residents in need of support from multiple programs and agencies. This would serve seniors and non-seniors alike and help residents cut through the red tape and get the help they need from government programs. NAHENDEH K. Menicoche No response. S. Thompson I will commit to working with the NWT Seniors Society to identify areas of concerns and work with the appropriate department to ensure seniors can access GNWT programs and service. RANGE LAKE YELLOWKNIFE D. Dolynny See response to question 3. C. Cochrane-Johnson I will support community consultation with all organizations providing older adult support within all GNWT legislative reviews and policy imple- mentation practices supporting this population continued support for community or- ganizations providing older adult support services cross-cultural orientation for all communityregional-based Health and Social Service personnel language translation services electronic medical record usage streamlined prescription practices out-of- territory coverage of medication annual quality of service reviews and a review of the medical travel policies. THEBACHA M. Miltenberger For the most part I believe that access currently exists and that we have the best seniors programs and benefits in the country. However the GNWT initiative to put Government Service Officers in all the small communities has been very successful and well received by all including seniors. L. Sebert All GNWT programs for seniors must be accessible to seniors throughout the Northwest Territories and we must ensure that communities outside of Yellowknife have appropriate programs and resources for seniors. D. Jaque Education directed at seniors is required plus working through health care agencies and connecting directly with active seniors groups in order that all seniors benefit from available programs. I would commit to supporting all such programs. This is a paid advertisement sponsored by the NWT Seniors Society.