Partners Seeking Solutions with Seniors (PSSS) is a coalition of Manitoba stakeholders who have been meeting together since 2001 to network, share information and resources, and to develop strategies related to the stated goals of the group. PSSS meets on a bi-monthly basis and membership includes representatives from a rage of service providers and interests – seniors, senior-serving organizations, health care, addiction services, pharmacy, self help groups, government, and universities. Currently, one-third of the members are older adults themselves. In addition, many contacts have been made with representatives of organizations who have expressed a continuing interest in the topic and in the work of PSSS.

Envisioning a society that fosters healthy aging.

In partnership with community, PSSS empowers people in making informed choices that support healthy aging. Current focus areas include mental health, substance use and gambling.

• Leadership, networking, partnerships
• Community involvement through pilot projects, resource development, information dissemination
• Education and awareness and lobbying to influence change
• Reframing ageism to strengthen communities
• Respecting the importance of traditional medicines in aboriginal and multicultural communities

• The unique role of PSSS within the existing system is one of coordinating, linking, advocating and enhancing capacity in the context of seniors’ mental health and addiction issues.
• PSSS is eager to assume a number of key functions in cooperation with the Minister and the Government:
• Provide consultation around issues such as patient safety and falls/injury prevention initiatives
• There are significant implications around healthy substance use in terms of quality of life, ability to continue to live independently with lower levels of support and reduction of health care costs.
• Participate in the “Advancing Age: Promoting Older Manitobans” strategy – either directly or as a member of various Policy Forums.
• The vision and objectives of PSSS are congruent with the commitment of the Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat to lead government in creating an environment that promotes health, independence and well-being for all Manitoba seniors.
• Substance misuse has the potential to impact all three identified theme areas of this strategy, namely Health Care, Community Living and Security.

• Peer Helping Community Development Manual ready for distribution in March 2010
• Peer Helping Program in Brandon in partnership with the Brandon Community Partners, Brandon AFM and the Brandon RHA
• Peer Helpers trained at the Aboriginal Seniors Resource Centre.
• On the Road to Awareness Conference - March 18 and 19 at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg.
• New Vision and Mission Development to include Seniors mental health as a core value
• Multi cultural partnerships including health clinics and seniors festival celebrating cultural diversity.
• Large Network Meetings providing opportunities to focus on our Partners, such as the Geriatric Program Assessment Team, Victoria Lifeline and the Canadian Mental Health Association Wpg.
• Representation on the North West Co-op HANS Project
• Collaborating with AFM Wpg. and Tache Centre to initiate the first AA group in a personal care home

For more information, please contact: