An expert panel weighs in on Ageing in Place

In the weeks since I last posted on a personal plan for ageing in place, the government of Canada put out a report by an expert panel called Final Report of the Expert Panel, Supporting Canadians Aging at Home: Ensuring Quality of Life as We Age. As we age in place, it is a good idea to see what the experts expect the government to do.  

On October 6, 2022, the Minister of Seniors and Minister of Health announced that the National Seniors Council (the Council) would serve as the Expert Panel on Supporting Canadians Aging at Home (the Expert Panel). The Expert Panel was asked to examine measures, potentially including an aging at home benefit, that could further support older persons in Canada to age at home.

The Expert Panel believes that given national and international demographic trends, the 3 main areas of focus should be:

•           financial benefits focusing on low-income older persons (often women). See recommendations #1, #3 and #9

•           community-based support and services. See recommendations #10 and #11

•           planning for aging, retirement, and life in later years. See recommendations #2 and #7

Strengthening governance and accountability will be important complementary measures to ensure quality of life as we age in Canada. This can be achieved by adopting relevant legislation, regulations, standards, governance, and accountability. See recommendations #16, #17, and #18.

  

These 20 recommendations for immediate action support the broader, long-term outcomes pursued by the federal government. Implementing these recommendations will help older persons to age at home and achieve and/or maintain their quality of life.

 

Aligned to the 5 domains of the Quality-of-Life Framework for Aging in Canada and to the 4 priority policy pillars (4As).

 

Prosperity (Priority Pillars: Availability, Accessibility and Affordability)

 

1.      Introduce a new Age at Home Benefit

2.      Establish a public national insurance program for home care and support

3.      Increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

4.      Expand, modify eligibility criteria, and promote existing programs that provide housing for older persons

5.      Convert the Canada Caregiver Credit into a refundable tax-free benefit, allowing all caregivers to receive up to $1,250 a year

 

Health (Priority Pillars: Availability, Accessibility and Affordability)

 

6.      Develop a strategy for recruitment and retention of human resources to support aging at home

7.      Focus on disease prevention and health promotion

8.      Enhance palliative care at home

 

Society (Priority Pillars: Availability, Accessibility and Affordability)

 

9.      Support innovation with affordable housing alternatives for older persons

10.  Invest in new and existing navigation and social prescribing initiatives

11.  Expand existing grants and contributions programs to include longer-term funding options

12.  Invest in organizations that support caregivers

 

Environment (Priority Pillars: Availability, Accessibility and Affordability)

 

13.  Invest in technology and digital literacy and further invest in innovation in technology

14.  Expand support for Age-Friendly Communities

15.  Invest in safe, local public transportation services

Good Governance (Priority Pillar: Accountability)

 

16.  Enact legislation on home care (within the Canada Health Act or new legislation)

17.  Enact legislation on long-term care

18.  Support the development of national home care standards

19.  Increase prevention of mistreatment of older persons

20.  Actively engage in discussions at the United Nations regarding the potential development of a convention on the rights of older persons