This page was exported from The Auroran [ http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran ] Export date:Fri Mar 29 0:38:49 2024 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Staying active takes centre stage at Minister for Seniors’ roundtable --------------------------------------------------- By Brock Weir Allowing seniors to age in place – and remain active while doing so – were central issues voiced to Canada's Minister for Seniors last week at a roundtable hosted by Newmarket-Aurora MP Kyle Peterson and the Aurora Seniors Association. Representatives from the Aurora Seniors Association (ASA), Newmarket Seniors Meeting Place, CHATS (Community & Home Assistance to Seniors), the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), York Region Makers, 108 Health Promotion, the Region of York, along with Mayor Tom Mrakas and Newmarket Mayor Tom Taylor were among those who gathered at the Seniors' Centre last Monday to outline their concerns to Filomena Tassi, Federal Minister of Seniors. “There is no question that we know when seniors are active, it is very preventative in terms of ailments,” said Ms. Tassi, responding to a call from the ASA's Charles Sequeira for a Federal program that would put a tax rebate in place for seniors trying to stay active by joining a gym or a comparable program or facility. “There is no question that we want seniors to be active and engaged in their communities, and physical activity is a very important part, which is why the New Horizons for Seniors program is an example of one that is very important for the Federal Government to invest in.” The stakeholders went on to press the Minister on the issue of affordable seniors housing, which was something both Mayors said was important to Aurora and Newmarket as a whole. “We are very aware of this in terms of the need for affordable seniors housing,” responded the Minister. “You are not just talking about housing, but transition pieces where people can stay, making sure it is age appropriate or age friendly, etc. In Budget 2016, we invested $200 million and that was to create a minimum of 6,000 spaces for seniors in terms of affordable housing. Then, subsequent to that, $40 billion in the national housing strategy. In that strategy is what there is a co-investment piece and I believe that is $16.5 billion. That is the application that can be made to apply for safe, secure affordable housing for seniors. It is a minimum space of 7,200 if you do a number count, but it can be a lot more than that. “What is different about this is we're having CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) work with different organizations in order to create safe, secure, meaningful housing for seniors. Those investments are being made. As I am travelling across the country, I am seeing models that are being designed that are absolutely brilliant, where they go from independent living right to long-term care. It is the full spectrum with wraparound services and inclusive of those living with dementia.” Aging in place, she added, was another component the Federal government was taking to heart. $6 billion was given to the provinces and territories, she said, to support seniors who want to age in place, but there is still work to be done creating spaces ideally suited for seniors. “The last thing we want is a senior in hospital when they can be in a space for assisted living, but there are no assisted living [spaces] and now it is costing about $1,000 a night for them to be in the hospital,” said Ms. Tassi. “They don't want to be there, they catch other things and then it causes problems. We are making advances and making headway on that.” But the Federal government needs to make more advances and headway on transportation, said CHATS CEO Christina Bisanz. Ms. Bisanz said she was encouraged by the Minister's agreement that transportation was an issue right across the country, particularly in more rural areas, including those here in York Region. Organizations have applied for grants under the New Horizons program to forge transportation services to get seniors from place to place, an initiative that is very much in CHATS' wheelhouse. “We are very appreciative of the support we've had from the New Horizons program,” said Ms. Bisanz, offering that program grants received by CHATS have not only enabled them to install a wellness garden at their Edward Street headquarters, but also seniors technology labs in Aurora and Richmond Hill. These programs, she said, help seniors stay connected, staving off feelings of isolation, but much of their client base is “the more frail elderly” who are not able to get themselves from their place of residence to the program. “This is where our transportation service comes in,” said Ms. Bisanz. “We provide transportation through all of York Region through both volunteer as well as paid drivers. We will drive seniors to medical appointments, to grocery shop, to our adult day programs and social programs, whatever they need. It is a service that is meant to complement existing public transit, so in this case, York Region Transit with its mobility plus service, really should be the first stop and then CHATS is designed to fill in. Although increasingly we're finding that because of the frailty of our clients that they are preferring CHATS service. We have had to prioritize medical drives over the more social drives, and it is a very effective program.” Providing the means for seniors to get where they need to go is just one component of helping them stay and age in their homes as long as possible, live independently and do so in dignity. But there is also a vital need for human resource supports to help people age in place, she added. Home care is becoming ever more important and is, in many cases, the preferred option to help seniors age in place. “The challenge we have is we have already hit a wall in terms of…resources in the personal support area. It is increasingly difficult for any of us, whether it is home care, long term care, hospital care, to be able to attract and retain personal support workers,” she said, asking for something to be done “from the standpoint of immigration” for a national strategy on health and human resources, focusing on skilled support workers and nurses. --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- Excerpt: Allowing seniors to age in place – and remain active while doing so – were central issues voiced to Canada’s Minister for Seniors last week at a roundtable hosted by Newmarket-Aurora MP Kyle Peterson and the Aurora Seniors Association. --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2019-04-04 19:45:32 Post date GMT: 2019-04-04 23:45:32 Post modified date: 2019-04-04 19:45:41 Post modified date GMT: 2019-04-04 23:45:41 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com