Supports to Independance and Quality of Life

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• Housing
• The Voluntary Sector
• Technology
• Information

Housing

The availability of appropriate and affordable housing is an important factor to help seniors enjoy good quality housing and opportunities for greater independence and quality of life. Through its housing agency, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the federal government helps to improve housing choice and affordability for Canadian seniors through a combination of social housing contributions, renovation programs and enabling initiatives.

CMHC provides support to social housing services in partnership with other levels of government and a variety of housing agencies and sponsor groups. Approximately 639,000 social housing dwelling units exist across Canada with approximately 200,000 of these being committed to seniors. Additional units for seniors are committed under unilateral provincial programs. In November 2001, the Government of Canada reached an agreement with the provinces and territories on a framework for a new cost-shared initiative which will provide affordable housing for Canadians, including seniors.

Through its Canadian Centre for Public-Private Partnerships in Housing, CMHC also brings together the public and private sectors, not-for-profit groups and organizations, and private citizens to facilitate the production of affordable housing without federal government subsidies. Since its inception in 1991, the Centre has facilitated over 200 affordable housing projects for seniors across Canada.

The federal government also helps to improve housing quality and living conditions, enabling older Canadians to enjoy greater independence and quality of life. Through a number of programs, CMHC administers housing renovation initiatives for low-income Canadians, including low-income seniors, to help bring substandard housing to minimum health and safety levels, to make homes accessible to persons with disabilities, and to make emergency repairs required for the safe occupancy of homes in rural and remote communities.

CMHC also undertakes a broad range of research and information transfer initiatives related to seniors housing which are designed to encourage innovation in a variety of areas including: community planning; the development of new types of housing options; new financing options and types of tenure to improve housing affordability; the implementation of innovative design concepts and the use of new technology and home adaptations to improve comfort, safety and security.

The Voluntary Sector

As they age, seniors generally require higher levels of support to enable them to preserve their independence. While much of that support takes the form of help from family and friends, volunteers and community organizations are also important.

The voluntary sector and the Government of Canada share a long tradition of joining forces to achieve common goals for the benefit of Canadians, and are working to strengthen their relationship. The Government of Canada and Canada's voluntary sector ratified an Accord in December 2001, which spelled out the values, principles and commitments that will underlie their future relationship. Also announced was the creation of the Canada Volunteerism Initiative, a program to strengthen volunteering and to improve the understanding of volunteering's impact on Canada's economic and social well-being. Recent federal initiatives are evidence that the contribution of volunteers is valued, and that the relationship with the volunteer sector will continue to grow to better meet the evolving needs of Canadian communities.

Technology

The growth in older populations is occurring at the same time as an explosion in technology. Thousands of older adults are discovering the many benefits of technology. Yet, credited with making life easier, technology has also created challenges for some as everyday activities such as banking, telephoning, and finding health information may increasingly involve unfamiliar or different ways of doing things. Access, literacy, cost, design, privacy and attitudes all play a role in how we choose to use technology.

The federal government is undertaking initiatives to address issues related to seniors and technologies. For example, the Community Access Program of Industry Canada provides training to Canadians, including seniors, in the use of information technologies.

Industry Canada also works with government, universities, hospitals, industries and others to find new technologies that can serve seniors. Its Assistive Devices Industry Office supports businesses that make affordable devices which help seniors and people with disabilities live more independently.

Information

The federal government has made a commitment to have all of its services available through the Internet by 2004. To deliver on this commitment, the Government launched Government On-Line. One of the projects emanating from this initiative is called Seniors Canada On-Line. This web site is a special portal established to provide seniors, and persons interested in seniors issues, with easier access to government information. Seniors can find information they require and/or links to other web sites to find what they need regarding government programs and services. Seniors can also keep informed on matters of interest to them by using a toll-free line to access government information or get pers on-to-person service using Access Centres in certain government buildings throughout Canada.

Health Canada provides health information to the general public through the Canadian Health Network (CHN). This is a national, bilingual internetbased health information service whereby visitors can find excellent resources from health information providers across Canada. It features 26 Health Centres focused on major health topics and population groups.

Another key federal information resource for seniors is the Seniors Guide to Federal Programs and Services which is updated regularly and distributed widely across Canada.

By providing Canadian seniors with clear and accessible information, the federal government is playing an important role in enabling them to maintain their health and well-being.

 

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