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The Council: Who is NACA?What is the National Advisory Council on Aging? Find out about the Council's mandate, current members, priorities and recent releases.
Who are you?Are you 65 years old or more? If so, you are one of over 3 million people in Canada's senior population. Not only is the senior population growing in numbers, it is also increasing as a proportion of the total population. Today, seniors comprise 12% of the population. By 2021, they will probably represent about 20% (barring dramatic changes in fertility, migration and mortality). Perhaps you are a near senior - aged 55-64. If so, you are one of nearly 2.5 million Canadians. Maybe you are a younger Canadian concerned about the aging of a parent or a relative. Perhaps you are a service provider whose clientele is older people. Or you may be a business person wanting to adjust to the seniors boom. You may also be a politician, an elected official or an organization's representative concerned about aging policies. Or perhaps you are one of the many people who are interested in seniors and aging from a research, communications or program development perspective. The possibilities abound. If you count yourself among any of these groups or individuals then you are the YOU of NACA and you. What is the National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA)?The National Advisory Council on Aging was created on May 1, 1980, to assist and advise the Minister of Health on all matters related to the aging of the Canadian population and the quality of life of seniors. These may be matters that the Minister refers to the Council or that the Council considers appropriate. Who is NACA?The Council consists of up to 18 members from all parts of Canada and
all walks of life. The members bring to Council a variety of concerns,
experiences and abilities. Members are appointed by Order-in-Council for
two to three-year terms. What does NACA believe?NACA believes that:
How does NACA "assist and advise?"NACA's primary function is to offer advice to the Minister of Health. The Council interprets this as providing well thought out, timely and sensible recommendations to current and upcoming issues and activities that reinforce the Council's advisory capacity. In fact, NACA is commissioned to:
The Minister of Health is not NACA's only client. Often, NACA addresses issues or conducts activities that fall within the purview of other stakeholders. How does NACA "review the needs of seniors and recommend remedial action?"First NACA consults extensively before it selects the strategic issues and concerns to be addressed. For example, NACA:
Second, NACA monitors policy developments in Canada and abroad and conducts documentary research and quantitative or qualitative analysis on selected issues. The Council's data collection methods include special consultations, data and literature searches, media reviews and content analyses. Following the analysis of research findings, various avenues of response to seniors' and aging concerns are defined. Third, NACA selects the best policy and program alternatives and develops its position on the issues under study. NACA's recommendations reflect the consensus of all Council members. Why does NACA "maintain contact with national, provincial and local associations?"In two years alone, NACA worked on some 60 topics, including income security, seniors' health, housing, women's life-course events, the very old senior, the aging labour force, continuing education, gerontology training, geriatric assessment and elder abuse. So many issues could not be covered effectively without the close collaboration of informed contacts. The Council, therefore, counts on these contacts to bring in ideas, solutions and critiques. The Council also depends on these contacts to disseminate NACA's views and positions to various agents of change and to wider audiences. By multiplying the pressure points acting on any given issue, the chances of progress are all the more likely. By reprinting, reformulating and quoting NACA's material, associations allow a greater readership to participate in the discussion of issues. Finally, by establishing partnerships, the Council and its contacts achieve greater impact, more visibility and better cost-effectiveness. In addition, co-ventures in publishing, in promotional campaigns or in issue resolution can be mutually beneficial from the standpoint of technical expertise alone. How does NACA "distribute information...?"All possible means are used. NACA:
How does NACA "publish reports...?"NACA publishes a variety of documents to reach a variety of audiences and to answer specific needs. The Council's publications include:
How does NACA "stimulate public discussion on aging?"The Council encourages the resolution of issues in aging through public debate. To that end, NACA:
What can you do for NACA and Canada's seniors?As a senior or an interested citizen, you can
How can you reach NACA?NACA wants to hear from you, to listen to your concerns and issues. To give NACA your views, comments and suggestions or to obtain NACA's publications contact: National Advisory Council on Aging Tel: (613) 957-1968 |
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