Seniors Advocacy Project
History of Advocacy at the 411 Seniors Centre
Since its establishment in 1972, the 411 Seniors Center has played a leadership role in Vancouver and the province in the area of seniors’ health and well-being. Advocating for the rights of seniors has been a component of the work of the 411 for many years. In 2001, the Seniors Health and Housing Coalition, a group of seniors and seniors’ organizations, began a process to build seniors advocacy in the province of BC. The coalition formed a Steering Committee and appointed the 411 Seniors Centre as the administrator for the Seniors Advocacy Project. Since that time, the advocacy project has grown and that original coalition has developed into the BC Seniors Advocacy Network (BC SAN).
For more information about the history of seniors advocacy at the 411 Seniors Centre, please click here.
BC Seniors Advocacy Network
The BC Seniors Advocacy Network (BC SAN) is a network of volunteer advocates who volunteer with seniors who are facing a variety of complicated situations and require supports and information to deal with the issues at hand. Advocates provide practical assistance by working with seniors to help identify issues, resolve problems, and connect people with needed resources. Advocates can help clients to ensure that their voice is heard and they receive access to services to which they are entitled. Advocates will go the “extra mile” and assist seniors to follow up on their concerns.
For more information about the work of the BC Seniors Advocacy Network, please see our brochure.
Click here for BC SAN brochure.
Advocates assist seniors who are dealing with:
• Quality of care in residential facilities including long term care, assisted living, supportive housing, and independent living;
• Residential disputes including evictions and other tenancy issues;
• Access to income programs, appropriate health services, and other services for seniors;
• Access to affordable housing;
• Issues related to abuse including financial fraud;
If you are a senior who requires the support of an advocate, please contact the BC SAN Coordinator at 604.684.8171. The advocacy services are free of charge to seniors in BC.
Join the BC Seniors Advocacy Network
The BC Seniors Advocacy Network (BC SAN) actively recruits volunteer advocates from throughout BC to join the network. BC SAN advocates receive comprehensive training in individual advocacy and systemic advocacy. Advocates have access to ongoing information, resource sharing and legal advice to support them in their advocacy role.
Advocate recruitment is ongoing and advocate training is offered at least once per year in the Lower Mainland. If you are interested in joining the BC SAN, please contact 604.684.8171.
The BC Seniors Advocacy Network would like to acknowledge our funders past and present:
• United Way Of The Lower Mainland
The United Way Seniors’ Independence and Participation funding is currently supporting the Seniors Advocacy Project at the 411 Seniors Centre.The goal of this funding is to provide advocacy supports to seniors, aged 55 and older, in the Lower Mainland outside of Vancouver.To accomplish this,seniors’ advocates are being recruited, trained, and supported in communities throughout the Lower Mainland. To date, new advocates have been recruited from Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Burnaby, North Shore,Coquitlam and Langley. Future trainings are planned for the spring of 2009 to target communities in the Fraser Valley and the Ridge-Meadows area. Advocates are trained to go beyond the services offered by traditional senior counselling and provide supports which may involve individual and systemic advocacy. The United Way funding is also supporting the development of effective partnerships with community agencies to raise awareness of the advocacy program and determine opportunities for collaboration. By strengthening and developing the network of advocates throughout the Lower Mainland, we are able to better serve all seniors especially those who are often marginalized including ethno-cultural seniors, LGTB seniors, seniors with disabilities and those living in poverty and isolation.
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• New Horizons for Seniors
• Vancouver Foundation
• City of Vancouver
• Law Foundation
• Health Canada
