The province’s new Seniors’ Advocate is outlining some of the main priorities for her office moving forward.

Susan Walsh, a social worker, was officially sworn-in to the position yesterday.

Walsh outlines five key priorities for her office moving forward. Those are the transformation of the acute, long term, and community care system, the response to the rising cost of living, the plan to address housing challenges, programs and services to address aging in place, and lastly a status report on current recommendations from the office.

The first step for her office, says Walsh, will be to get out and hear from seniors and seniors’ groups.

She says they want to do a “fact check” on where things were before COVID, and where things are today. She wants to make sure she is well aligned with what’s being heard in the community.

Meanwhile, the appointment of a Seniors Advocate has prompted some other changes in the public service.

Alan Doody is now Deputy Minister of Children, Seniors, and Social Development.

Doody has been working with the provincial government for nearly 20 years, and most recently served as Associate Deputy Minister with the Department of Health and Community Services, and as the interim CEO of the NL Centre for Health Information.

Doody replaces Susan Walsh.