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Freda Hannah receives Ontario Senior Achievement Award December 2008- Freda Hannah has been a tireless advocate and a strong supporter of the rights of residents of long-term care homes in Ontario since 1987, when she joined the board of directors of Concerned Friends, shortly after retiring from her position as assistant executive director of the Toronto Community Living Association. A long-standing member of the Concerned Friends advocacy committee, Freda continues to respond to advocacy calls with sensitivity and wisdom. She educates and mentors new volunteer advocates, and she was the main author of A Handbook for Advocates Working with Concerned Friends. Freda was president of Concerned Friends from 1992 to 2000. Under her leadership, the small volunteer board of Concerned Friends amassed a distinguished list of accomplishments. In 1993 the Residents' Bill of Rights was included in the Nursing Home Act as part of Bill 101. The first of several Concerned Friends Report Cards on Ontario Long Term Care Homes came out in 1992. The Long–term Care Homes Checklist was revised and improved, and Freda also contributed to and edited the Concerned Friends quarterly newsletter. Throughout this period Freda found the time to continue her individual advocacy work and met on a regular basis with officials from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care to push for improvements in the hands-on care of residents. The Family Councils Program was Freda's brainchild in 1996, and it has proven to be a huge success. Nearly 500 long-term care homes in Ontario now have a family council. She continues to oversee the operations of the program and works tirelessly to secure its future. Family councils are now entrenched in long-term care legislation. In 1997, Concerned Friends and the Self-Help Resource Centre of Greater Toronto received seed money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to get the Family Councils Program off the ground, and last year the Trillium Foundation recognized the success of the program with its 25th Anniversary Award. The program is now funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. Freda also served on the board of the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and last year she joined the board of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. Freda inspires all who work with her. She is compassionate, thoughtful, tactful and wise. She is a great friend and mentor who has persevered for 21 years to improve the quality of life for Ontario citizens in care facilities. Freda received her Ontario Senior Achievement Award on October 8, 2008 at Queen's Park. It was presented by the Hon. Aileen Carrol, Minister Responsible for Seniors, and Col. Sandy Cameron, Chief Aide de Camp to the Hon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. This award is the province's highest recognition for seniors and is presented annually to Ontarians over the age of 65 who have made significant contributions to their communities through voluntary or professional activities. Freda was nominated for the award by Lois Dent, president of Concerned Friends. |