National Coalition for Social Innovation for Seniors Health’s reaction to Federal Budget 2021

The National Coalition for Social Innovation for Seniors Health, representing key partners focused on the health and well-being of older Canadians, would like to express its gratitude to the federal government for allocating much needed funds through its Age Well at Home Initiative, which demonstrates a strong commitment towards enabling Canada’s seniors to age gracefully in their own homes in communities across Canada.
 
Canada’s seniors who choose to remain in their homes, need support to address food insecurity, social isolation and loneliness, and mental health issues. Through our work to support seniors before and during the pandemic, we have witnessed the detrimental effects of isolation. The World Health Organization has declared social isolation and loneliness as a serious global health issue that leads to more emergency room visits, life-threatening health issues, earlier admissions to long-term care homes and premature death. In addition, seniors with pre-existing chronic conditions that contribute to their frailty are even more at risk. 
 
We know that Canada’s vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected when disruptive events strike. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most disruptive health events we have witnessed in our lifetime and we are seeing the impacts on our seniors.
 
Last year, we formed a pan-Canadian coalition to address this important and complex issue. We look forward to continuing to work with the federal government, as well as provincial, territorial, and municipal governments and other stakeholders to address the specific needs of Canadian seniors during this difficult time and beyond the pandemic, to allow them to live safe and socially connected lives in their own homes for as long as possible.
 
About the National Coalition for Social Innovation for Seniors Health
 
The Canadian Red Cross has formed a pan-Canadian strategic partnership to address the complex and far-reaching issue of supporting Canada’s vulnerable seniors who live in their own homes in communities across Canada. Together with AGE-WELL, the Canadian Frailty Network and the Mental Health Commission of Canada, we are ready to work in partnership with all levels of government, and community-based organizations across Canada, to improve the quality of life of Canada’s seniors living at home.
 
About the Canadian Red Cross

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and support them in strengthening their resilience.
 
About AGE-WELL

AGE-WELL is Canada’s Technology and Aging Network. The pan-Canadian network brings together researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians. AGE-WELL researchers are producing technologies, services, policies and practices that improve quality of life for older adults and caregivers, and generate social and economic benefits for Canada. AGE-WELL is funded through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program.

About the Canadian Frailty Network
 
The Canadian Frailty Network is Canada’s sole network devoted to improving care for older Canadians living with frailty and supporting their families and caregivers. It does this by increasing frailty recognition and assessment, increasing evidence for decision-making from the bedside to the policy-making level, advancing evidence-based changes to care, training the next generation of care professionals and scientists, and engaging with older adults and caregivers. It is funded by the Government of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program.
 
About the Mental Health Commission of Canada
 
The Mental Health Commission of Canada provides leadership and advice to policy makers on mental health and wellness issues facing Canadians, notably establishing and working with governments to implement Canada’s first national mental health strategy Changing Directions, Changing Lives. The Commission is an effective convenor and has direct experience working with people with lived experience, governments, academia, clinicians, and communities to identify and scale up evidence-based solutions. As part of this coalition, Mental Health Commission of Canada will mobilize its considerable convening power and expertise in research demonstration projects and identify evidence-based solutions and best practices to the address mental health challenges facing socially isolated and lonely older Canadians.
 
 
MEDIA CONTACTS
Canadian Red Cross
English Media: 1-877-599-9602
French Media: 1-888-418-9111