Timeless Generation Podcast Special: Interview With Elizabeth and Subhash of the Ontario Society of Senior Citizens Organizations (OSSCO)
For the first issue of
“The Timeless Generation’s” special podcast on Senior issues, Jenna and Jessica
visited the Ontario Society of Senior
Citizens Organizations (OSSCO) head office to meet with Elizabeth MacNab and
Subhash Rai, and have a conversation about their agency and the work that they
do.
To
listen to the interview, click here: https://www.regentparkfocus.com/radio/media/timelessgen/more/OSCO_2019-03-06.mp3
If you do not have
time to have a listen, but are still interested to hear more about OSSCO,
please read the summary below:
What is OSSCO in a
nutshell?
Ontario
Society of Senior Citizens Organizations (OSSCO) is an umbrella organization,
comprised of like-minded community groups and individuals who represent
seniors, retiree organizations as well as businesses and individuals who want
to improve the quality of life as we age.
What is the organization
all about and how did it get its start?
OSCO
started as a grass roots movement in response to a former federal government
planning to reduce pensions. OSSCO was incorporated in 1987 as a registered
charity to primarily focus on the participation of seniors in all aspects of
society, keeping seniors information on current issues and focus on programs to
benefit an aging population. Today OSSCO focuses on 3 things: programs for seniors
of an educational nature; educating stakeholders and decision-makers and
participating in research projects.
What kind of programming
does OSSCO have?
OSCO
offers a variety of educational programs offered in select communities in the
province with the goal of providing older people with the knowledge, resources
or tools to improve or maintain their quality of life.
Some
of our programs for example were developed to specifically to reduce social
isolation of seniors. Our computer programs teach seniors how to incorporate
technology – computers, cell phones or tablets - into their lives,
keeping them active and engaged. We offer beginner, intermediate level 1 and
level 2. These programs are offered through a host partner – who provides the
computers – and OSSCO who develops the learning program, and supplies the
computer trainer.
Ten
times a year in Toronto, we offer a learning program called Tuesdays with
OSSCO. OSSCO tests ideas as to what is important to older people, and then uses
that information to revise, improve or develop new workshops and learning
programs for seniors. OSSCO creates and delivers learning programs through
training consultants on topics of interest to all Ontario seniors. These
programs are available in Ottawa, Toronto/GTA, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie,
Thunder Bay, London, Niagara Region and Windsor-Essex. Our programs deliver the
lessons/workshops using a technique called “empowerment learning”, enabling the
learner (participant) to be empowered in the learning process through a variety
of engagement activities discussion, and questions. OSSCO’s facilitator/trainer
also gains new knowledge through this process
OSSCO
is the only seniors’ organization which develops and hosts an annual seniors’
conference with an information fair. The conference free of charge to anyone
over the age of 50 and the information fair is open to the public.
Due
to OSSCO’s expertise with older people, we developed 4 toolkits to help
unemployed older people, including newcomers and immigrants, enhance their
economic opportunities. We offer a 2-day Job Search workshop, highlighting
encore (or 2nd career options) as well as teaching people how
to reconnect and run a self-sustaining employment meet-ups called Employment
Networking Groups. We also offer a 2 day workshop on how to start your
business, targeted at people 50 – 70 years of age. The Job Search workshop has
a success factor of 15% participants finding employment within a 3 – 6 month
period. As a result of our grants, we usually write a report on a topic, and
share the information with stakeholders, decision-makers & influencers as
well as the broader seniors community.
4. Can you tell me which
issues that Senior’s experience are of particular concern to OSSCO?
Health
care system – so many changes recently with the merger of the CCAC (a community
service delivery body) into the LHIN (a planning body), that it’s confusing for
seniors (and families) on accessing services and programs for which they are
“eligible”. Now it’s rumoured the 13 LHIN’s will be merged into 5 entities.
Hospitals
discharging older people too quickly resulting in re-admission, or releasing
them back into community without the safeguards in place so that the person
does not return to hospital. Consolidation of health care services in large
hospital centres so that patients travel 4 – 6 hours for treatments i.e.
cancer.
Transportation
– in rural and northern Ontario there is no alternate “public” or community
transportation between communities i.e. Grey Hound closing down bus routes, no
train service between Sault Ste. Mari & Sudbury. When a senior gives up
their drivers license they have to relocate into a community with public
transportation to remain independent. This means smaller communities’
populations are negatively affected.
Pensioner
Poverty – the current “claw back” or “tax recovery” system means that any
pensioner who receives minimum pension + OAS + GIS and who wants to work so
that they can “thrive” on an income of $30,000 p.a., will be taxed up to 90% on
earnings between $18 – 30,000 a year – the same rate as someone earning more
than $250,000 per year. Pensioners are being “shamed” that they did not save
enough money for retirement years.
Affordable
housing for lower income seniors/pensioners especially for pensioners living in
large urban centres as well as single household seniors.
Long
Term Care (LTC) which is chronic and complex care, is no longer just for
seniors. The current LTC model replaced the various other health institutions
the province had. This means a young person with brain injury, or a mid-aged
schizophrenic will live in LTC with a frail senior.
Loneliness
and social isolation. As people age their social networks decrease due to loss,
death, moving away, ill health etc, and their social contacts decrease
considerably. To remain socially active also requires an appropriate income to
do so i.e. join a seniors’ centre, go out for coffee, movies, to have a
computer, internet provider, etc. New ways of reaching out to older people is
required to provide them with a sense of real “community” as things change
instead of a “virtual’ one.
Ageism
which is an issue which affects everyone’s perspective on dealing with,
communicating, treating and interacting with an older person. It’s literally
the last Human Rights violation.
Why everyone should care
about these issues, regardless of age?
Access
to health care when you need it, and where you can get to it is important for
everyone. Why should a person drive 4 – 6 hours for cancer treatment, or wait
up to 2 years for knee or hip replacement? Public and communal transit is
important because not everyone drives, or can afford a vehicle. Even
millennials get lonely – especially if they moved for work or their friends
have relocated. Creating welcoming neighbourhoods and communities is important
for everyone to thrive in.
Can a person become
involved with OSSCO?
As
a volunteer – every year the Board as a vacancy for a new board member. You can
also volunteer to help with the seniors conference – registration desk,
greeters, outreach to our member organizations to attend. We’re always looking
for knowledge experts in the field of aging to speak and present at Tuesdays
with OSSCO. For projects we often look for senior advisory committee members to
share their views and provide input into new programs for seniors.
--
To listen to the
entire podcast, please visit:
https://www.regentparkfocus.com/radio/media/timelessgen/more/OSCO_2019-03-06.mp3
For more information
on OSSCO, please visit: http://www.ocsco.ca/
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