Scarborough = After a lifetime of hard work, seniors want to live healthy, safe and independent lives. They should have the choice to age at home, in their communities. The Government of Canada is investing in organizations that are making this choice possible for more Canadians. Minister of Seniors, Seamus O’Regan Jr., announced $13.95 million in funding for 11 projects in Ontario under the Scaling Up for Seniors stream of the Age Well at Home initiative. The Minister made the announcement while visiting the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care in Scarborough, which will receive over $1 million for their project, Bridging the service gap to keep seniors aging in place. The Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care will work with the support of communities, senior-serving organizations and other agencies to expand the delivery of their services in Ontario and into British Columbia.
These projects will make a real difference in the lives of seniors. For example, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, which has also received funding, will scale up support services offered in Ontario for seniors living with dementia and their caregivers to all other provinces and territories. Additionally, Rural Ottawa South Support Services will expand their A Friendly Voice project to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador to enable seniors to age well at home through meaningful social connection.
Through the Age Well at Home initiative, organizations are being funded that meet the needs of diverse groups of seniors, including seniors who have a low income, are Black or racialized, Indigenous, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, seniors who live in rural and remote settings, are members of official language minority communities, newcomers and seniors who speak a language other than English or French.
“The choice to age at home is something every Canadian should have. This is about the dignity of seniors to live how and where they want.” – Minister of Seniors, Seamus O’Regan Jr