CARP: Past, Present & Future

Plus a new health records app

How does a small advocacy group grow into a nationally influential lobby? By relying on the dedication of its members across the country, CARP gained access to the corridors of power, enabling it to improve the life and well-being of Canadians as they age. Here, President Moses Znaimer and VP of Advocacy Wanda Morris look back at CARP’s accomplishments and chart a course for the future.

CARP’S PRESENT

Refocused and Stronger As our timeline reveals, CARP has a long and storied history of achieving significant social change and improving the lives of Canadians as we age. While we’re unwavering in our commitment to advocate for our members, we’re making changes to the way we do so. In the three decades since our inception, many of our members have become less interested in group meetings while becoming adept at obtaining information and engaging electronically.

Lately, we’ve increasingly relied on a potent combination of digital campaigns and activist members to secure advocacy wins. Our members held the federal government’s feet to the fire by taking polls, signing petitions and writing letters; and together we sealed the deal on CPP expansion, home-care funding and caregiver support.

We also recognized that many of our members want to help in other ways, too, so we’ve begun accepting donations to expand the scope of our work by supporting specific ad hoc campaigns from time to time.

We’ve made great progress nationally and in Ontario. However, we of course recognize – and are frequently reminded – that not all Canadians live in Toronto. Accordingly, we’ve opened a second office in Surrey, B.C., to strengthen our presence in B.C. and Alberta; we’ve also revitalized our chapter network. The new B.C. office is headed by Wanda Morris who retains her role as National VP of Advocacy while taking on the challenge of growing our advocacy, membership and regional benefits in B.C. and Alberta.

Our revitalized chapter organization still stretches from coast to coast, but we will have fewer, but stronger, groups that are committed to both advocacy and membership growth and are equally comfortable hosting membership drives, speaking events and digital campaigns.

CARP’S FUTURE

More Tech, More Reach CARP’s advocacy and membership are inextricably linked: the larger our membership, the more powerful our voice. As boomers age, CARP’s membership pool increases; thus, we believe a million members are within reach.

Yet, however powerful our advocacy becomes, we realize that political change is relatively slow, and many of our members don’t have time to wait.

In the future, we’ll not only be tackling some audacious advocacy goals like a 50 per cent reduction in senior poverty, an overhaul of investor protections and the elimination of mandatory RRIF withdrawals, we’ll also be providing more tools and resources to help you manage your own health and financial well-being. On the next page, you’ll read about a key new

benefit secured by our COO, Laas Turnbull: a new electronic personal health record management tool, CARP Health 360. And this is just the beginning. Over time, we’ll be expanding our digital resources and tools to become your trusted source for information and assistance on health and finance.

While knowledge is power, by itself, it’s not enough. You have to take action, too; and not just politically but personally. CARP President Moses Znaimer wants members to get off the couch, stand up straight and get moving! So, stay tuned for his Beyond Advocacy and Benefits Campaign. CARP AND YOU

As our members enter the second half of their lives, these days they face a storm of financial challenges: significant increases in longevity, historically low interest rates and a lack of fundamental investor protections. This means many of us face the very real threat of outliving our savings.

Health-care systems that are straining at the seams coupled with growing rates of dementia and an immediate lack of systemic support for caregivers further increase the difficulties CARP members face.

No one should have to fight these challenges alone. Today, tomorrow and beyond, with your support, we will work to ensure that all Canadians can live with dignity and peace of mind, no matter their age or the size of their pocketbook.