A word from the outgoing President

Handicap Vie Dignité (HVD) faced a major challenge during the year. The Hélène Rumak Fund, which enabled us to undertake various projects and which was managed responsibly according to the conditions established by the court as part of our class action suit, ended on December 31, 2023. This conclusion necessitated a major reorientation. Anticipating this transition, in 2024-2025, the Board of Directors decided that HVD would continue its role as an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the participation of people requiring long-term care, together with their caregivers, in decision-making related to care goals and quality of life within health and social service organizations. We have initiated the search for new funding sources to ensure the continuation of our mission.

After 10 years as President, I informed the Board of Directors that I wished to step down once the new organizational structure was in place, ensuring a smooth transition. Our Vice-President, Linda Furlini, possessed the skills and leadership necessary to lead HVD into its next phase. Following her retirement, after a career in research ethics, she was elected president on April 30,2025. I am grateful for her dedication and commitment.

While I have stepped down as president, I remain deeply committed to HVD’s mission and will continue my involvement as the Senior Project Advisor. Additionally, I will remain a member of the Board of Directors, supporting the organization in this new role. In this capacity, I look forward to collaborating with our team and contributing to the exciting work ahead.

We were fortunate to count on both our existing and new members of the Board of Directors whose expertise has been invaluable. Mona Beck greatly strengthened our activities and administration, while Linda recruited Rosanna Bruni, to whom we are grateful for taking a major role in rebuilding our website. Our treasurer, Dolores Di Re, continued to provide her financial expertise, which is crucial to our financial stability. Sadly, Nicole Jaouich left us in 2025 after many outstanding years of serving as secretary to our Board of Directors.

During the period covered by this report, HVD faced three major challenges: advancing missiondriven projects, securing new funding, and implementing a renewed organizational structure with an updated mission statement and website. Despite financial constraints, I was honoured to receive a $10,000 award through the Women of Worth Program from L’Oréal Paris/Canada, which gave us a crucial start as we pursued new avenues of support.

Our activities in 2024 centered on three major projects. The first, a research initiative led by Linda Furlini as principal investigator and me as co-researcher, was a study entitled, Exploring the Experiences of CHSLD (Long-Term Care Homes) Residents and Their Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Solutions for Improving Quality of Life and Well-Being. With the support of part-time coordinator Ophély Dorol-Beauroy-Eustache from the Université du Québec à Montréal, we successfully completed this project. The l’Oréal/Paris award funded the coordinator’s position. The project was presented by Linda Furlini at the Canadian Association on Gerontology congress on October 25, 2024. A summary of the study is available on the HVD website.

The second initiative was a theatre project in collaboration with Théâtre Parminou, titled, L’heure de Mireille: une histoire de bienveillance. This project included live performances and two video versions, one in French and one in English. These presentations were shared with numerous CHSLD residents, their informal caregivers, and staff. Following each performance, members of our Board of Directors, Mona Beck, Marie Amzallag and I, as well as Hélène Durand, a volunteer, facilitated discussions focusing on potential solutions to challenges within their respective CHSLDs. Our goal was to inspire reflection and foster concrete actions to enhance the quality of life and care for residents. A special thank you to Hélène for her outstanding work.

A third initiative grew from our commitment to reducing isolation among seniors living in CHSLDs. We were awarded a $25,000 grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program to support this intergenerational project. Pierre Fournier, a valued and dedicated volunteer, and Marie Amzallag, a member of the Board of Directors, collaborated to prepare the successful grant proposal. Pierre subsequently coordinated the project. HVD established a partnership with two CÉGEPs: John Abbott and Saint-Laurent. Students from French conversation classes visited isolated seniors in certain local CHSLDs. During their visits, students used tablets to facilitate engaging discussions, as appropriate, fostering social connection and combating isolation.

Throughout 2024, our network expanded significantly. Partnerships with the Cummings Centre and OVS (Observatoire vieillissement et société) deepened, particularly in initiatives against ageism. I was invited to join several committees within the Cummings Social Action Committee and contributed an article on ageism, which was translated by Marie Amzallag and subsequently published in GérOphare. I also facilitated five workshops on combating ageism, including one for 2 our partner RECAA (Ressources Ethnoculturelles Contre l’Abus envers les Ainé(e)s) focused on HVD’s mission.

As we reflect on the progress we made during 2024-2025, I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated members, partners, and devoted supporters. Together, we will continue to strengthen our mission and increase our impact, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to defending the dignity and rights of people requiring long-term care, as well as those of their caregivers who support them.

September 20, 2025

Daphne Nahmiash, Ph.D.
Outgoing President
Handicap Vie Dignité