Ontario Seniors' Secretariat

Linda Jeffrey Minister Responsible for Seniors » Biography

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Overview

The Ontario Seniors' Secretariat (OSS) undertakes or influences policy initiatives that improve the quality of life of Ontario seniors and supports public education efforts for and about older Ontarians. The OSS also works with Ontario's major seniors organizations and other provincial ministries, as well as federal and municipal governments, to ensure the needs of older Ontarians are considered in all government policies and programs that could affect their quality of life.

Major Responsibilities

Policy Initiatives

• Ontario's Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse - Ontario leads the country in efforts to combat elder abuse through this $4.3M 5-year strategy, the first of its kind in Canada. The strategy will help seniors groups, service providers and volunteers tackle this problem directly at the community level.
• Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias - This is the first comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy on Alzheimer Disease to be introduced in Canada. It consists of a 10-point action plan designed to help people with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias, their caregivers and families.
• Retirement Home Complaints and Information - The first province-wide retirement home Complaints Response and Information Service (CRIS) helps protect the health and well being of seniors in retirement homes by providing up-to-date information about the full range of service and accommodation options, as well as help to resolve a complaint about any retirement home in Ontario.

Public Education Initiatives

• Ontario Seniors Seminars provide seniors with valuable information on healthy aging and healthy lifestyles in communities across the province.
• Seniors' Month in June is a time to reflect on, celebrate and recognize the important role seniors play in the growth of this province - as individuals, as volunteers and as community leaders.
• Veterans Events and Services - The Memory Project - a partnership with the Dominion Institute to educate Ontario students about the tremendous price our veterans paid for our freedom. Veterans Commemorative Park

Sites of interest

• Seniors' Info - a multi-jurisdictional seniors’ portal
• The Memory Project online with The Dominion Institute of Canada - the Dominion Institute’s flagship educational programme, designed to connect veterans and students online and in classrooms across the country
• Seniors Canada Online - an Internet gateway to find services provided by Governments and well known non-government organizations.