VANCOUVER, March 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Members of the National Seniors Council (NSC) met today in Vancouver with seniors organizations, service and health providers, researchers and practitioners to assess how social isolation affects seniors and how best to tackle the issue in Canada.
The Council met with individuals and organizations from across British Columbia as part of a series of cross-country roundtables. Social isolation touches many aspects of seniors' lives, including active participation, healthy aging, income security, caregiving and transportation. Social isolation can lead to depression and increased vulnerability to elder abuse, among other concerns. Statistics Canada's 2008-2009 Canadian Community Health Survey found that 19 percent of seniors aged 65 or over felt left out, isolated from others, or that they lacked companionship. Once the roundtables are completed, the Council will prepare a report with key findings and suggestions for government action that it will present to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, the Minister of Health and the Minister of State for Seniors in fall 2014.
Quick facts
- The NSC advises on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, including the opportunities and challenges arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse population of seniors.
- Since 2007, the NSC has undertaken work on elder abuse, the effects of low income among seniors, volunteerism, and positive and active aging. Most recently, it explored approaches to attracting older workers to the labour force and retaining them.
- On October 1, 2013, National Seniors Day, the Government of Canada announced a call for proposals to fund approximately 20 pilot projects—an investment of $2 million—aimed at addressing seniors' social isolation.
Quotes
"Social isolation affects the overall well-being of seniors, including their health and their participation in families, workplaces and communities. Our government is working hard to tackle issues like social isolation by listening to seniors and consulting with key players from the non-profit, public and private sectors."
- The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), who oversees the day-to-day work of the NSC.
"We are confident that the National Seniors Council's findings will help the Government of Canada better understand and address the needs of seniors. Keeping seniors active and socially engaged benefits not just the seniors, but their communities as a whole."
- Dr. Andrew Wister, member of the NSC
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Backgrounder
The National Seniors Council (NSC)
The NSC advises on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, including the opportunities and challenges arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors population.
- The Council reports to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, and to the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health. The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council.
- NSC members include seniors, representatives of organizations who serve seniors and/or experts on seniors and ageing.
- The Government of Canada established the NSC in 2007 to provide advice on the overall well-being of seniors, both now and in the future.
The Government of Canada is working hard to help improve the lives of seniors on many fronts. These efforts include:
- redeveloping seniors.gc.ca as a central resource for seniors including a new Information for Seniors section that brings together a variety of federal, provincial/territorial and municipal resources about relevant programs and benefits;
- providing Canadians with close to $76 billion this year through Canada's public pension system;
- a top-up to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in 2011 to help Canada's most vulnerable seniors. This was the largest increase in 25 years to the GIS for the lowest-income seniors. This measure further improves the financial security and well-being of more than 680 000 seniors across Canada;
- providing $2.7 billion in 2013 in tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as pension income splitting and increasing the Age credit;
- providing $400 million over two years under Canada's Economic Action Plan for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors;
- making a strong investment in the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) through an annual budget of $45 million. Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 11 200 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada;
- investing up to $2 million for approximately 20 pilot projects that will address the isolation of seniors and intergenerational learning through the NHSP;
- Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes to increase funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program by an additional $5 million per year;
- actions to address elder abuse, including awareness campaigns, projects funded by the NHSP to raise awareness of elder abuse and legislation to help ensure consistently tough penalties for offences involving the abuse of elderly people; and
- supporting positive and active aging through the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults and falls-prevention initiatives.
SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada
Earl Maynard
Office of the Minister of State (Seniors)
819-953-1144
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[email protected]
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