Provincial seniors’ advocates call for action on barriers to healthy ageing

The Seniors’ Advocates for British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and New Brunswick are calling for action to address barriers affecting older adults across Canada.

The joint statement was issued on National Seniors Day and the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, highlighting concerns about affordable housing, income and access to health-related services.

The advocates say many seniors are providing important support to their families, neighbours and communities while struggling to meet their own basic needs as living costs increase.

They point to the cost of housing, medical devices and other services as particular concerns for older adults living on fixed incomes.

The advocates also say several services and necessities are not covered under the Canada Health Act, including prescription medications, eyeglasses, hearing aids, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, ambulance services, home care, transportation and mobility equipment.

While some seniors have access to extended health benefits, the advocates say coverage varies and may not adequately cover the costs of these services.

They also raise concerns about federal income benefits being indexed to the Consumer Price Index, saying seniors can face different cost pressures because a larger portion of their income may go toward essentials such as housing, food and health-related expenses.

The advocates say increasing life expectancy creates opportunities for older adults to remain involved in their communities, but argue that longer lives should also be accompanied by access to affordable housing, adequate income and health services.

They say a senior's ability to age well can depend on factors including where they live, their income, health needs, family support and ability to pay for services outside the publicly funded health-care system.

The four provincial advocates say seniors across Canada face many of the same challenges despite differences in provincial programs and service delivery.

They are calling for greater support to help older adults live independently and with dignity, both for seniors today and future generations.