This Dementia Dialogue episode outlines the connection between human rights and dementia, with particular attention to the impact of COVID-19 on long term care. Mario is a dementia activist who is a co-creator of a Canadian Charter of Rights for Canadians with Dementia for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Laura Tamblyn-Watts of CanAge is a lawyer and leading advocate for older people and Margaret Gillis is the President of the International Longevity Centre, Canada and is working to have Canada adopt the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. Each gives their own advice on what listeners can do to promote human rights for people with dementia.
CBC Radio Interview on Long Term Care and COVID-19. May 28, 2020
Ron Snow on 1310 News (interview starts at 34:10 mark), April 21, 2020
Listen here...CBC a National Radio “The House” with Chris Hall April 18, 2020
The high number of COVID-19 deaths among residents of long-term care homes points to the urgent need to reform Canada's seniors' care system, says an advocate for the human rights of seniors. Margaret Gillis, president of the International Longevity Centre-Canada, said the lack of uniform standards for seniors' care at the federal level leaves older Canadians vulnerable to both elder abuse and tragedies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
CTV National Interview and print report Michele Bruno reporting April 16, 2020
640 Toronto Morning Show Mike and Supriya : Guest Margaret Gillis, President ILC Canada April 15, 2020
“Human Rights don’t have a best before date”: Covid 19 lays bare ageism. April 13, 2020
We need not look any further than the horror story unfolding in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Canada and around the world. We have known from the get-go that people in institutional care were among the most vulnerable to a pandemic. Yet little was done to protect them.
“We know that United Nations Conventions work.". July 14, 2019
ILC Presidents Margaret Gillis (Canada) and Rosy Pereyra (Dominican Republic) on Ageism and the need for a United Nations Convention on true Rights of Older Persons. “A convention does many things. It allows advocates to track progress and hold governments accountable for transgressions and inaction. It clarifies the responsibilities of governments, establishes laws and policies, and calls for data collection and regular reporting. And a convention will encourage older persons themselves to speak openly.”
Dementia Friends. June 5, 2015
On June 5th, the Government of Canada and the Alzheimer Society of Canada announced the launch of Dementia Friends Canada, a program seeking to help understand the effects and dispel the myths associated with people suffering from dementia in order to reduce the stigma associated with having dementia. Based off similar successful programs from the United Kingdom and Japan, Dementia Friends has set a goal of 1 million registrants by Spring 2017.
New Longevity Centre to be Hosted at uOttawa. March 3, 2015
The University of Ottawa has announced it will house the first and only International Longevity Centre of Canada through the Faculty of Health Sciences and join the International Longevity Centre (ILC) Global Alliance.
