Seniors Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

Project Outline:

The current transportation system in BC does not enable all people to access services or meet their day-to-day needs independently. Older adults, people with disabilities, and others without a driving license and/or access to a car are “transportation disadvantaged”. This lack of transportation sharply constricts the world they live in, cutting them off from all kinds of life opportunities.

The Seniors on the Move project encourages individuals and communities to plan for age-related changes in transportation and make resources available for alternatives to driving. Working with key system actors, our goal is to develop a transportation system that is responsive to demands of social equity and inclusion as well as climate change.

The three-year project has three phases:

1) Consultation and Communications

 Engaging with, and understanding the experiences of older adults the system actors

2) Wheels Turning

 Design and delivery of (alternative) community-based transportation services

3) Advocacy

 Bringing lasting systems change into the real world

As we are at the beginning of the project, there is a great deal that needs to be planned. However, part of the role of the Seniors Advisory Committee is to review and comment on the planning and implementation of the project. We will value your contributions at this early stage!

Objectives:

To support the Seniors on the Move project by:

  • Sharing personal transportation experiences

  • Identifying needs and barriers of current transportation options for seniors

  • Highlighting potential improvements and opportunities for seniors’ transportation

  • Generating potential solutions to the issues and ways to bring them about

  • Providing feedback

Membership:

8-12 individuals, aged 65+ or better, with balanced representation of genders and cultures residing in the Metro Vancouver region.

Meetings:

At least quarterly, and more frequently as required.

As we get underway this summer, we may have additional meetings. The time commitment for this committee is expected to be between 2 and 4 hours per month including preparation time for meetings, “side discussions” with other members and staff and the scheduled committee meetings.

Communication:

Agendas, minutes from previous meetings, and relevant documents for review will be distributed by email at least one week prior to meetings by Project Coordinator. Minutes and action items will be distributed by email as soon as possible following a meeting by the Project Coordinator. Project Coordinator will also receive changes to previous meetings’ minutes and revise before meeting.

Committee Orientation:

New Committee members will be given the following documents:

  • Terms of reference

  • Minutes of previous meetings

Date initiated: May 2021