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Innerworkings revealed Oncore Seniors Society Oncore Central Services (now Oncore Seniors Society) purchased the Senior Connector in January of 2014. With Oncore’s focus on assisting seniors in their daily lives, the paper continues to complement that vision. But how are decisions made at Oncore and who is making those decisions? These are a few of the questions many of our readers would like to know the answers to. Oncore Seniors Society is a registered charitable organization; it was created through the amalgamation of Seniors Outreach Services Society (established
around 1985) and River City Seniors Society (initially established around 1965 as Thrupp Manor Association). Oncore receives funding from the Better At Home Program, which is a provincial program administered by the United Way of the Lower Mainland. Various other programs are funded by the City of Kamloops, Interior Health Authority, United Way of Thompson Nicola Cariboo and private donations from foundations and individuals. The board of directors consists of a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer and other board members with various professional and personal backgrounds — nine in total. Any decisions are made at monthly board meetings by a majority vote. The next Annual General Meeting will be held in late December or early January.
Local society aims for answers By surveying and talking to seniors in the community, the Interior BC Council on Aging Society is working to ensure local seniors have their voices heard By Cavelle Layes
A local seniors group is sick of hearing politicians talk about what they think seniors want, rather than listening to their real concerns. Isabelle Allen is the chair of the Interior BC Council on Aging Society, a group who came together to ensure local seniors have their voices heard. “We felt there was a lack of good information on how Cavelle Layes people were being Isabelle Allen, chair of the served, so we got Interior BC Council on Aging together,” Allen said. While the idea of having someone who would speak on real seniors' issues was popular, it wasn’t as easy to find a place for them to fit in. “We tried to present the idea to various groups but no one was terribly interested," Allen said. “Especially when people are so used to doing what they are doing, no one wants to change that.” The group members were not going to let this setback deter their idea of providing a louder and more educated voice for seniors, and so, their own unique group was created.
“It started with the idea of what the government thinks seniors need and want, isn’t always true,” Allen said. After talking to seniors in the area, it became obvious there were some frustrations. To fix this issue, the Council on Aging Society plans to actually talk to seniors, hear their concerns, their ideas and what it is they would like. Allen said there are a few concerns that seem to be repeatedly popping up, and local seniors would like to see them made into more of a concern for politicians. “A major thing is the whole help with assisting people to stay in their homes,” she said, noting that there seems to be misunderstanding out there, that seniors want to be in senior’s homes. “We think we don’t get enough input from older people themselves to say, ‘this is how you can help us live where we want to live,'” Allen said. This is where the Council on Aging Society comes in. The group will be talking to seniors, sending out surveys, and are now trying to expand to outside, rural areas such as Chase. Allen once lived in Chase until medical issues and lack of resources in the small area forced her and her husband to move. It is based on her own experience, which she understands that sometimes seniors in rural areas need a little extra help. She noted cancer patients who need to travel to Kelowna for treatment, but have no form of transportation, or others who require specialists located in Kamloops.
See "Lack of resources” page 3
See "Electing board members” page 3
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