Council on Aging draws criticism from seniors' advocates

Two prominent advocates for seniors' care in the province are critical of the way the Council on Aging has been formed.

The 17-member council is tasked with developing a strategy for aging in New Brunswick. Its first meeting will be next week.

Cecile Cassista from theCoalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights says the Council on Aging would feel freer to make decisions ifthe members were not chosen directly by the province.

"When you're hand-picked and funded for the most part by the government, I don't think that you can really make good decision on behalf of New Brunswickers," said Cassista.

The names of the 17 members were announced last month.

They include representatives from organizations that include the Association of Francophone Seniors; a group that does receive government funding.

Cassista saidshe did not apply to be a member.

She saidshe would have applied ifcouncil members were chosen independently of the province, while still able to make recommendations to government.

Plans for a Council on Aging were first announced last September, the day after the provincial government backed down from contentious reforms to the province's nursing home policy.

Reinventing wheel

It's beyond our imagination as to why [Jodi Hall]was excluded.- Michael Keating,New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes

The executive director of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing HomesMichael Keating says he is happy that a Council on Aging has been formed, but says much of what the council is tasked with doing has already been done by the Premier's Panel on Seniors under the David Alward government.

"I would suggest to you that there will be very few items that will be much different from what the last council had decided," said Keating.

"We need action now. We don't have time to wait for more recommendations. The recommendations have been made."

Omission questioned

Keatingsaidthe new council does haveseveralmembers who bring a wealth of experience to the table, but both he and Cassistasay Jodi Hall isone notable figure who was not chosen. Hall is the director of operations at the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes.

Keating saidHall was encouraged to apply by Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers.

"It's beyond our imagination as to why she was excluded," said Keating.

"In our opinion, and those of many New Brunswickers, she is the most knowledgeable person on healthy aging in this province."

The Department of Social Development told CBC News that the reason for Hall's omission is that the council is not a group for stakeholders.

Keating says the government's reasoning doesn't make sense.

"Even the co-chair [Ken McGeorge] is an executive director of the Alzheimer's Society. Other Associations are represented," said Keating.

"Who needs a voice more than the 4,500 residents we have in our nursing homes who can't speak for themselves?"

Jodi Hall declined an interview on the topic, but said she wishes the council "all the best."