Age Well at Home initiative to be implemented in Quebec
The Government of Canada has launched the Age Well at Home Initiative, aimed at helping seniors “age in health, in safety, and in dignity.” The program aims to achieve this by supporting community organizations in piloting new approaches, scaling up their existing and effective ones, and mobilizing volunteers to assist seniors in aging at home.
Minister for Seniors Seamus O'Regan Jr. revealed that $39.6 million in funding has been earmarked for 71 pilot projects across Canada.
These projects, which focus on mobilizing volunteers to support lower-income or vulnerable seniors at home, were selected through an open call for proposals held in the summer of 2022 under the In-Home Support Pilot Project stream of the Age Well at Home initiative.
“People want to age at home – in health, in safety, and in dignity. There are organizations across the country who are bringing people together in their community to check in and look after their seniors. We're investing in those organizations, in those volunteers, who are making lives better and communities stronger,” O'Regan says.
The minister made the announcement during a visit to Connections for Seniors in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization is set to receive $798,846 for its Community Outreach Program, which will be utilized to expand practical in-home support services for up to 2,000 older adults in the St. John's area.
“We are immensely grateful for the Age Well at Home Initiative investment in Connections for Seniors, marking a significant milestone in our mission. The allocated funds will be strategically channeled into three pivotal programs: Food Security, Accessible Transportation, and Social Enterprise. These initiatives are not just programs, but pillars of change that will redefine the living standards of our senior community, ensuring nutritional well-being, seamless mobility, and engaging social entrepreneurship,” says Mohamed Abdallah, co-founder and executive director at Connections for Seniors.
“This funding is more than a contribution; it's a transformative force for the betterment of senior lives in our community,” he adds.
Work is currently underway to implement the Age Well at Home initiative in Quebec.
Seniors in Canada
Canada's senior population is among its fastest-growing demographic groups, projected to represent nearly 25 percent of the population by 2057 and possibly reach close to 11 million people within the next 15 years.
The Government of Canada has increased Old Age Security by 10 percent for seniors aged 75 and older and the Guaranteed Income Supplement by up to $947 annually for low-income single seniors.
Budget 2021 allocated $90 million, with $76.5 million in grants and contributions, over three years for the Age Well at Home Initiative. The initiative, extended until 2025–2026, provides funding to seniors-serving organizations for local, regional, and national projects, encouraging the exploration of new approaches to support seniors aging at home.
