June is Seniors’ Month in Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Office of the Seniors’ Advocate

June 1, 2018

This month is a perfect time to focus on issues important to seniors. During the past few months the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate has received numerous calls, emails and letters expressing concerns in the areas of personal care, health care, transportation, housing and finances.

Appointed in November 2017 Dr. Suzanne Brake recognizes how important it is to hear the voices of seniors throughout all of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“I am honoured to be the first Seniors’ Advocate in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is essential that I meet with seniors to identify and prioritize issues for review. I am committed to reaching out to seniors throughout the Province”.

Since the Office was established she has consulted with groups of seniors in Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Holyrood, St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South, Torbay, Clarenville, and Eastport. Outreach continues in June with “Meet the Advocate” events in Deer Lake, Corner Brook, Port Aux Basques, Port au Port East and Stephenville Crossing.

In addition, a website has been launched where seniors can submit their concerns to the Advocate through an on-line form which can be accessed at: http://www.seniorsadvocatenl.ca 

Dr. Brake encourages seniors to contact the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate and share with her the issues and possible solutions which impact seniors in our province.

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Media contact
Dr. Suzanne Brake
Seniors’ Advocate 
709-729-6603, 1-833-729-6603
Fax: (709) 729-6630
seniorsadvocate@seniorsadvocatenl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

The Office of the Seniors’ Advocate is an Independent Statutory Office of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Office works with seniors, service providers and others to identify, review, and analyze systemic issues impacting large numbers of seniors; and make recommendations respecting changes to improve seniors’ services.

On November 7, 2017 Dr. Suzanne Brake was appointed as Newfoundland and Labrador’s first Seniors’ Advocate.

A senior is defined in this Act as an individual who is 65 years or older; or less than 65 years and receives seniors services.

Individual concerns are referred to either the Office for the Citizens’ Representative which accepts complaints from individual adults of all ages, or SeniorsNL which provides a province-wide information and referral service.

The purpose of these “Meet the Advocate Events” is to bring seniors and others together to discuss systemic issues (issues that affect more than one person), to explore solutions and to bring about positive social change.

The following “Meet the Advocate” events are scheduled for Seniors’ Month:

June 6, 2018City of St. John’s Seniors Day 2018
June 11, 2018The Caribou 50+ Club, Deer Lake
June 12, 2018Senior Citizen’s Echo Club, Corner Brook
June 13, 2018Gateway Seniors 50+ Club, Port Aux Basques
June 14, 2018Twilight 50+ Club, Port au Port East
June 14, 2018Seniors Club, Stephenville Crossing
2018 06 01 2:20 pm