An award-winning documentary filmmaker is kicking off the new Time for a Change series at Century House.
The Seniors Have Voices committee, a joint partnership between the City of New Westminster and Century House, is organizing a series of workshops focused on advocacy; how to identify, discuss, organize and advocate for change on issues that impact our daily lives.
It kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 4, with Moira “Mo” Simpson, who will be both speaking about and presenting, The Thinking Garden. Sign-in is at 6 p.m. on Oct. 4, with the event running from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“The Thinking Garden 2017 is a remarkable example of advocacy,” said committee member Val MacDonald. “This inspiring story is what can happen when three generations of South African women take matters into their own hands in the face of drought, HIV-Aids and poverty. It is advocacy we must employ if we want to see the changes necessary to ensure safe and healthy aging.”
Gloria Levi, a well-known gerontologist, social worker, writer and community activist, will appear at the second workshop in the series. She will be at Century House on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“Gloria was instrumental in turning Habitat for Humanity into a powerfully connected organization,” MacDonald said. “Her book Dealing With Memory Changes as You Grow Older has been translated in to five languages, and at 91 she published her first book of fiction.
All of the workshops are free but you must register by Calling Century House at 604-519-1066 or pre-registering at the front desk.
Seniors Have Voices is a project created by the Time for Change Group at Century House in New Westminster, MacDonald said.
“It is our goal to engage people to become their own advocate or to join collectively to ensure that the programs and services for seniors are appropriate according to the principle of aging in place,” she said. “As most seniors, their families and caregivers know the current system of caring for seniors is outdated and ineffective.”
MacDonald said the project is designed to engage seniors as advocates around the matters that affect them the most.
“It could be challenges finding housing, support services or how to live on a fixed income when the cost of living is so high,” she said.
The group’s plan is to hold monthly events to address issues including healthcare, home care, income and transportation. Guest speakers will address one of many topics then attendees will break in to smaller groups.
MacDonald said Time for Change was created in 2021 when the group held a webinar through Century House to discuss the current state of Long Term Care in light of the COVID 19 pandemic.
In 2021, with a grant from Century House the Time For Change Group held a Webinar on the current state of Long Term Care with four prestige’s panelists including BC’s Seniors Advocate! Consensus from the event was that the system failed seniors during Covid 19! Report with recommendations directed at all levels of government. The Time for Change Group determined that the only way we can change the system is to become advocates on our own behalf!
“Four panelists presented their thoughts on how residential care is currently provided and all agreed that the current delivery of services is not working. And that what is needed is a change in focus to from the current system to one of Aging in Place, where people can live independently in their homes for as long as possible. The resulting report and recommendations emphasizes this approach.
MacDonald said community members are encouraged to attend Time for a Change workshops.
“As we will learn from watching the Thinking Garden, most often when change is needed it is because people who get behind the mountain and move it,” she said. “Having listened to too many stories of health-care services gone wrong, seniors eating only one meal a day as that is all they can afford, being placed in residential care support services at home are inadequate, spending hours to get to a doctor’s appointment as there are not enough Handidart’s. Please join us on Oct. 4 and be a part of the change we want to see.”
