News for Staff and Volunteers of Seniors Organizations

Government of Alberta Opens Public Consultation for Budget 2020

The Government of Alberta has started work on Budget 2020, and wants to hear your thoughts. Your feedback will help to inform the new budget, scheduled to be released this spring. Complete the online survey and let policymakers know that support for seniors is a priority!

Public Information Session: Approach to Seniors Services

The City of Edmonton wants to ensure access to diverse and inclusive programs and services to support healthy aging for all Edmontonians. Lend your voice to this important conversation and help inform the future of senior services in Edmonton. This public engagement will focus on an assessment of the current state of programs, services and activities; clarification on the City of Edmonton’s role, and identification of future enhancements to supporting healthy aging.

To RSVP, call 780-496-5805 or email lynda.leederpaull@edmonton.ca by January 23. Learn more about the Approach to Seniors Services.

Session One: January 29, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: Igloo Room, Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre (11000 Stadium Road)
Session Two: January 29, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: 2nd floor, Mill Woods Seniors and Multicultural Centre (2610 Hewes Way)
Session Three: January 30, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: Igloo Room, Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre (11000 Stadium Road)

Tool explains service eligibility for immigrant, refugee and newcomer seniors

Depending on the immigration pathway in which immigrant, refugee and newcomer seniors (IRN) seniors arrived in Canada, most IRN seniors have limited or no access to essential services including income support and benefits, social programs, and healthcare.

The Age of Wisdom Collective initiative has developed a helpful tool that outlines service eligibility and includes stories from seniors that illustrate the diversity in their immigration experience and their access to services.

For more information, contact Nuel Han, Project Animator with the Age of Wisdom Collective at nuelhanmchb@gmail.com.

Alberta Government Phases Out Seniors Advocate, Rolls Role into Health Advocate

Seniors will no longer have a dedicated provincial advocate in 2020 as government asks Alberta's health advocate to absorb the role.

Although the minister of seniors and housing said the new combined office will still serve seniors well, the current seniors advocate worries elderly people are losing the voice of a team dedicated to combating systemic ageism.

"I am so passionate about it - we really need a seniors advocate in this province," outgoing advocate Sheree Kwong See said earlier this month. "We need seniors' issues to be front and centre."

In 2013, the former Progressive Conservative government announced it was creating offices of the health advocate and seniors advocate as part of implementing an Alberta Health Act.

The offices opened in 2014, with the health advocate taking on the seniors advocate role temporarily until Kwong See was recruited in 2016.

The seniors advocate has three key roles: helping seniors navigate systems and get support, outreach to seniors' groups and making recommendations to government for improvements.

Since becoming independent, the office has handled about 3,600 calls for help from seniors, Kwong See said. An average case takes about six phone calls, meetings or emails to resolve. The office opens and closes about 100 cases a month.

For more information, reference the full article text in the Edmonton Journal.

Financial Information Sessions for Seniors

The Seniors Financial Empowerment Network (SFEN) provides free financial literacy information sessions in the areas of personal finance, protection of assets, housing, legal considerations, areas of fraud or abuse, communication and self-esteem. The seven core education modules can be presented as stand-alone sessions or as a complete series at seniors facilities, community leagues, churches, or in larger settings. The modules are delivered by senior volunteers. Contact Sarah by calling 780-722-6701 or emailing sarah.ramsey@edmonton.ca if you’re interested in booking a session.