Saturday 18 May, 2013

PAL Canada® is looking for a new Executive Director and welcomes potential candidates to apply.

Please click here to obtain a copy of the job description.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO PAL CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PAL CANADA is looking for several persons who want to make a positive difference in the lives of seniors who work (or have worked) in the professional performing arts. At our Annual General Meeting on June 24th, 2013 we shall be electing our new Board of Directors. We strive to build a strong and effective board by ensuring that it is comprised of a broad and diversified base of talented and skilled people. Our Board will be made up of 10 persons elected at-large from across Canada as well as representatives from the 8 PAL Chapters in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Stratford, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, and ex-officio representation from the professional associations and performing arts unions who founded PAL Canada® in the 1990’s.

This year there will be at least 6 vacant seats to be filled. We have a particular need right now for candidates with backgrounds in the legal and communications professions and, as always, candidates with a knowledge of fund raising and accessing governments. As well, we are most interested in hearing from potential candidates in Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador

The Board meets 6 times a year in Toronto, with members from other parts of Canada connected by conference call. Meetings last approximately 2 hours. Each member of the Board is expected to be actively involved with the activities of at least one of the Board committees. All Board members need to become current members of PAL Canada® if they are not already.

Our Board members are passionate about the performing arts—the people who devote their lives to creating Canadian live performance, and to our mission: Taking Care of Our Own. Previous experience as a board member for a non-profit organization is an asset, as is experience in business or other professions.

If you are interested in being considered by the Nominations Committee, please contact Allan Macmillan, Secretary at macmillan22@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. Note also the final date of May 10, 2013 for receipt of formal submissions of nomination for election to the Board in the Notice of Elections below, as well as the mailing address.

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS: BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PAL CANADA FOUNDATION

The By-laws of PAL Canada® Foundation currently make provision for 10 Members-at-Large to be elected to its Board of Directors by the membership. The term of office is for two years from the date of the Annual General Meeting which, this year, will be held on June 24. The terms of all current members of the Board who are Members-at-Large will expire at the 2013 Annual General Meeting. Four of the incumbents have indicated their willingness to stand for a further term.

There are, therefore, at least six seats to be filled. If, by the deadline for nominations there are more nominations received than seats available, there will be an election and nominees will be advised as to the election procedures.

We encourage any member in good standing who would like to become a candidate for a seat on the Board of Directors to submit a nomination. If you are not currently a member in good standing and would like to be eligible for nomination, please contact the PAL Canada® office to make the necessary membership arrangements. The nomination will bear the signatures of two other paid up members of PAL Canada®, as well as that of the nominee indicating a willingness to serve. The inclusion of a brief biography of the nominee would be helpful, but it is not an absolute requirement at this point.

Nominations should be directed to the Secretary, PAL Canada® Foundation Inc., 110 The Esplanade. Suite 333, Toronto, ON, M5E 1X9 and must be received no later than May 10, 2013.

New Retirement Home Licensing in Ontario

Gail Packwood

The Ontario government created the Retirement Homes Regulation Authority (RHRA) as an independent not for profit corporation under the Retirement Homes Act 2010 to regulate and oversee the retirement home sector.

For the first time in the province, retirement homes will now need to be licensed and will be subject to regular inspections carried out by the RHRA. Retirement homes should not be confused with long-term care homes (often referred to as nursing homes), which are fully government funded and regulated, by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Retirement homes are operated independently and fees are charged to the residents directly for services.

The RHRA’s role is to license the over 700 retirement homes in the province that are home to approximately 40,000 seniors. They will maintain a register of all licensed homes and conduct regular inspections, overseeing compliance and enforcing the legislation of the Act.

Included in the RHRA’s mandate is a Residents’ Bill of Rights. This document is aimed at informing residents of their rights while living in homes licensed by the RHRA – it is a requirement of the license that it be posted in a public place accessible to all residents.

The Residents’ Bill of Rights includes:

The right to know what care services are provided and how much they cost
The right to be informed before fees for a care service(s) are increased
The right to receive notice before a care service(s) is discontinued
The right to give or refuse informed consent to any treatment, care or service where consent is required by law
The right to privacy during treatment and care
The right to live in a safe and clean environment with dignity and respect
The right to have lifestyle choices respected, and
The right to raise concerns or recommend changes in policies and services without fear of coercion, discrimination or reprisal.

Residents can file a complaint with the RHRA if they have any concerns or complaints about their care or the condition of their residence.

However, this new watchdog does not come without a cost. Each residence is being charged $9 plus HST ($10.17) per month per suite. For larger homes, this quickly adds up to a sizable amount of money. Unfortunately in many cases this charge is either being passed on to the residents or is resulting in a reduction of services. For many seniors already on fixed incomes and with tight budgets this additional charge is challenging.

Whether the new agency will prove to increase protection and improve conditions for seniors living in retirement homes remains to be seen and opinions, even among seniors living in retirement homes, are divided as to whether the oversight – and related costs - is necessary.

For more information on the RHRA, please see www.rhra.ca

The full Residents’ Bill of Rights can be found at http://www.rhra.ca/assets/en/pdf/Factsheet-Residents-Bill-of-Rights-AprFinal.pdf