TBL committee works toward accreditation as ‘age-friendly’
With Town of Brome Lake’s senior population being one of the highest in the province of Quebec at 27 per cent, the town has taken the initiative to become accredited as an “age-friendly municipality.” It is currently undergoing an approximate 15month process to reach that goal in order to become accredited. By doing so, the town will be able to facilitate optimal quality lifestyle for all seniors, whether living at home or in an assisted facility.
Since 2008 and in accordance to the vision of the World Health Organization, when Marguerite Blais was Quebec’s minister of the elderly, MADA (Municipalité amie des aînés, age-friendly municipalities) has been an important program that the Quebec government has promoted. However, for a municipality to become accredited as a “MADA” there is a process that must be followed. To date there are now 760 municipalities in Quebec recognized as “age-friendly” with 33 located in the Eastern Townships.
The Town of Brome Lake is continuing its work to develop a municipal policy for people 65 years of age and older. It knows that by being accredited as a MADA there will be more opportunities to secure grants that would support its senior community.
Thanks to a grant issued by Quebec’s minister of elderly, since January 2017, ten members representing the community of TBL’S interest have been working ardently to execute these necessary steps so that they can present an accurate view to the government concerning the current situation, expectation of needs, and a plan to implement support that would meet seniors’ needs. The members are: TBL Councillor Ronald Myles (committee advisor); Elizabeth Dupéré (chair of the committee); Daphnée Poirier (project manager); Johanne Morin (director general, Recreation, Culture, Tourism and Community Life); André Taché (Club de Bonne humeur); Lisa Macey (director Manoir Lac-brome); Marilyne Arpin (CIUSS Estrie); Jacynthe Lussier (CIUSS of the Eastern Townships); Michel Brisson (citizen of Lac-brome); and Kate Murray (Townshippers’ Association).
Myles, TBL councillor responsible for this specific file along with Dupéré, are asking the TBL citizens to think about what is missing in TBL that would serve to make life easier for people over 65 years old. They are looking for ideas. “What do citizens think is needed to support an agefriendly community (infrastructure, services, activities, communication, transportation, home support, health, other resources that help)? How can we help them continue being here with good quality of life?” He gave an example of parking. “We have handicapped parking but many seniors do not have handicapped parking privileges. How about a permit for parking for people over 65 years old?” He and the committee want to entice citizens to continue living here but know that there are things that can be done to help those who have increased restrictions.
So far, the committee has focused on diagnosing the situation of people 65 years of age and older living in the municipality. It has mapped out a statistical portrait of this population and made an inventory of the various services and resources available in the Lac-brome area.
Consultation with the community is a big part of MADA’S required process. Already meetings have been held in May in Foster, Fulford, West Brome, and Knowlton with their respective citizens where people were asked one question: What do people over 65 need? Analysis of these responses will allow the committee to launch the second phase of the consultation.
In August 2017, the committee will have prepared a questionnaire that it invites citizens to complete and return. This will help them identify needs for people 65 and over living in TBL.
Dupéré anticipates a meeting in September with partners in the community who are likely to assist the municipality in meeting the needs expressed by the general TBL population.
As a result of these consultations, the committee will prioritize the needs as well as the suggested courses of action by the population. They will then develop an elder policy that will be validated and formally adopted by town council.
Myles and Dupéré challenge the entire community to get involved with finding ways to improve the quality of life for its senior citizens. They say that everyone’s participation is essential to the success of this project.