Progress on Making Ontario A Better Place To Age

Ontario Newsroom
Ontario Newsroom

News Release
Progress on Making Ontario a Better Place to Age

January 24, 2014

Ontario Governments Action Plan Benefiting Seniors and Their Caregivers

Ontario is making it easier for seniors to stay safe, active and engaged in their communities.

One year after its launch, the province’s seniors and their caregivers are seeing results from Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors. The plan is focused on addressing the growing needs of the province’s aging population and providing seniors with better access to health care, quality resources and improved safety and security.

The province has delivered on many commitments laid out in the Action Plan, including:

The Age-Friendly Community Planning Guide – a resource to help municipalities develop physical and social environments that support independent and active living to help seniors stay connected to their communities.
The Finding Your Way program – the first of its kind in Canada, the program was developed in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. It offers a range of tools to educate and empower seniors, families, caregivers, police officers and the broader community in recognizing and responding to seniors who have wandered or gone missing.
The Seniors Community Grant Program – the grant program aims to give seniors more opportunities to participate in their communities by providing funding to not-for-profit community groups for projects that encourage greater social inclusion, volunteerism and community engagement. Applications for this program will open February 21, 2014.
Elderly Persons Centres (EPCs) – Responsibility for Ontario’s 270 EPCs, which provide recreational programs and seniors’ information fairs, is being transferred to the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Retirement Homes Act Regulation – Over the past year, new requirements came into effect, including additional annual staff training, a formal complaints process, police background checks for retirement home staff and volunteers, and mandatory extra expense insurance for retirement homes to ensure coverage of residents’ accommodation and care costs during emergencies.
Ensuring that seniors and their caregivers have access to the services they need, when and where they need them is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan to invest in people, build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.

QUICK FACTS

The Action Plan for Seniors builds on the report Living Longer, Living Well by Dr. Samir Sinha.
By the year 2036, Ontarios seniors population will more than double to 4.2 million.
Since January 2013, approximately 10,000 seniors have attended seniors fairs.
More than 680 retirement homes have been licensed under the Retirement Homes Act since its care and safety standards came into force in July 2012.

LEARN MORE

Progress for Ontario Seniors
Ontario Seniors Secretariat
Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario

QUOTES

“I am proud of the progress we have made since introducing Ontarios Action Plan for Seniors. Together with our community partners, seniors and their families, we are creating and sustaining supportive environments that help Ontario seniors live active, safe and meaningful lives.”
; Mario Sergio, Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs

“Seniors have given a lifetime towards building this country, this province and our community. Through the Seniors Community Grants, Ontario is in a better position to help our seniors stay engaged in the life of our community.”
; Jim Diodati, Mayor, City of Niagara Falls