News & Views

AAG NETWORKING DINNER, JUNE 18TH, 2024: SYSTEM CHANGE IS RESHAPING HEALTHCARE IN ALBERTA!

• A high level of chatter took place with close to 70 changemakers  from  across community-based organizations, housing, community care, and continuing care services, educators,  and policy leaders gathering at Lifestyles Options.

…Thanks to Lifestyle Options’ catering team for a delicious meal.

• Assistant Deputy Ministers showcased collaboration across ministries and portfolios:

• • Alberta Health ADM Matt Hebert set the stage with a presentation about Albertas plan for restructuring and challenged us with key targets for the future system:

• • • improving access to appropriate services with particular attention to unique needs in rural/remote areas and for indigenous communities
    • enhancing local decision-making and empowerment
    • improving system integration and coordination

                            …WATCH FOR implementation of the first phase of Regional Advisory Councils and the

                               Indigenous Advisory Council this Fall.

• • Alberta Seniors & Community ADM Dana Mackie spoke to  Minister Nixon’s recent announcement of increased funding to support social prescribing, community partnerships and elder abuse prevention:

• • • advancing a strong community-based services system with growth In social prescribing and non-medical supports, fundamental to health system change
    • addressing needs for elder abuse with a Coordinated Community Response Program and new safe spaces in 5 lodges in 5 rural communities—DID YOU KNOW, 1/10 seniors experience elder abuse!

• • Alberta Health Acting ADM Continuing Care Ashley Robinson spoke to the plan to transform continuing care in Alberta:

• • • supporting change with the new Continuing Care Act and regulations, in force April 2024, unique in Canada for its comprehensiveness
    • continuing implementation of the continuing care transformation (now in year 2 of a 3 year change and investment plan) with its goals to (a) shift care to the community, (b) enhance the workforce, (c) expand choice with innovation in service delivery (home care, small homes) and (d) improve quality (hours of care, quality of life initiatives).

…WATCH FOR implementation of the new structure for the Continuing Care Organization in the Fall.

Join colleagues at the October 2^nd in Edmonton with Alberta Health’s  Acting ADM Primary Care Organization, Erin O’Neill!— register here

APPLAUDING CHANGE MAKERS IN ALBERTA—AAG AWARD WINNERS JUNE 2024

At the June 18^th event, a sentinel event for AAG!

• AAG Launched the Vivien Lai Change Maker Awards, with a humorous and heartfelt tribute to his late wife by William Lai: He asked, “where did many of the ideas we have just heard about for change in continuing care come from?  Our Basement”!

• • The first 2 recipients of this award exemplify the spirit of change and hope championed by Vivien Lai:

(a) For Service Delivery Innovation: United Active Living, Calgary: Keziah Angeles and Ekaette Etukodo

(b) For Community-Focused Engagement & Service Development Innovation:  The Age Collective, Edmonton—Michelle and Shanuki Goonasekera

• AAG also announced their Bursary and Student Scholarships  for 3 very deserving individuals, all receiving $1,000 from AAG toward their studies.

(a) Health Care Aide Student: Christine Fearon, Bow Valley College

(b) Provincial Graduate Scholarships-Masters: Nicole Moore, U of A—MSc in Occupational Therapy

( c) Provincial Graduate Scholarship-Ph.D: Chika Kieorji, U of C, Social Work Program

• AAG continued their tradition of honoring change makers with the Mary Morrison Davis Award for Lifetime Achievement.

…Marlene Raasok is the 2024 Award winner!

           Meet the award winners on AAG’s web site!

AAG’S STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATIVE COMMITTEE (SCC) COMPLETED ITS 2ND YEAR JUNE 2024—with strong support from its 36 cross-sectoral members to continue.

• The Committee (link to the description on the Web) has published its Impact Report (now on AAG’s Web) and has sent it to Alberta Health as accountability for funding received by AAG for the Culture Change Project and its six initiatives .
• Alberta’s system restructuring plan calls on us to develop integrated services!
• At its June meeting, SCC discussed the shifts we need to make to develop cross-sectoral thinking and action –from a presentation at Inaugural National Community-Based Services Organization Conference, June 2-4, 2024  by the CEO of Future of Good, Vinod Rajasekaran:

MOBILIZING ACTION IN ALBERTA AND ACROSS CANADA: HEALTHY AGING ALBERTA!

• Community-based organizations from all provinces came together in Ottawa June 2-4^th to create next steps for a national community-based services organization, supported by HelpAge Canada.

…Kudos to Karen McDonald from SAGE and HAA who is on the Steering Committee for this initiative and who co-chaired a great conference.

…Alberta’s Healthy Aging team was visible and applauded for:

(a) the work to date to create a Community-based serving sector in Alberta (great presentation by Marion Elgahuagi)

(b) the scope of cross-sectoral engagement, including development of mental models and an action plan for change  based on the Culture Change Project regarding cross-mapping of HAA’s Healthy Aging Framework  (presentation by Anne Smith and Marlene Raasok)

( c) the collaborative relationships with provincial ministries for seniors AND health!.

RECOGNIZING LEADERSHIP FOR FUTURES OF WELLBEING: ALZHEIMERS SOCIETY CALGARY LAUNCHES PLANS FOR a UNIQUE DEMENTIA GARDEN!

Canada’s First Public Dementia Park!

After three years of research and numerous community engagement sessions facilitated by Dementia Network Calgary (DNC), Parks Foundation Calgary officially announced, last June 12, Canada’s first public dementia-inclusive park! This first-ever Canada public dementia-inclusive park will serve as a physical space for outdoor engagement and a powerful tool for raising awareness and reducing stigma around dementia. Currently, 20,000 Calgarians are living with dementia. By 2030, this number is expected to reach 34,000. With a younger population, Alberta leads all other provinces with projected growth in the number of cases of dementia. More than 200,000 people are expected to live with the condition by 2050. Despite the growing number of dementia diagnoses, there has been no space specifically designed for people living with dementia and their caregivers, until today. This new park will enhance individuals’ lives by providing safe and accessible infrastructure. The park will be home to various events, and activities in a green space setting. This first Canadian public inclusive dementia park will give people impacted by dementia hope for a better life while serving as an example of Calgary’s visionary spirit.

OUTLOOK FOR FALL—MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT, CELEBRATE AND LEARN TOGETHER!

• August 2024

• Check our special events from our organizational members like Capital Care Foundation for their fall fundraising initiatives in Edmonton

• September 2024

• September 5^th, Register now for AAG/AGNA’s Nexus Learning & Networking Event , Improving the Quality of Life for Older Adults in the Community and Across the Care Continuum, Edmonton

• October 2024

• October 2^nd,Watch for  AAG’s Networking Dinner –Alberta Health’s Primary Care Organization, Edmonton
• October 15-17, ACCA Conference, Telus Convention Centre, Calgary
• October 15-17, North American Conference for Integrated Care, Calgary
• October 23-24, AGEWell, Transforming Care Together, Edmonton
• October 24-26, Can Assoc of Gerontology, Edmonton

• November 2024

• November 1 & 2, Caregivers Alberta; Caregivers Together, Edmonton