The Government of Saskatchewan is once again investing $250,000 to help support seniors in the province, after an initial trial of the “Facilitating Independence of Older Adults in the Community” grant program in 2022-2023.
This funding helps support the organizations and community groups that enable our senior residents to continue living independently in their homes.
“We are pleased to offer these grants that will help find creative ways to support seniors across our province,” mental health and addictions, seniors, and rural and remote health minister Tim McLeod said.
“Seniors are valued members of our communities, and their health and well-being is a priority for our government,” said McLeod.
Funding for the program will support at least eight community projects across the province, and each community will receive up to $25,000. If successful, the goal is to repeat the program in even more locations next year.
For Moose Jaw specifically, Age-Friendly Moose Jaw is helping to improve access to the services, tools, and resources needed to help seniors live independently.
Age-Friendly Moose Jaw is an all-volunteer group promoting senior independence and seeks to help older adults “age in place,” according to committee chair Christine Boyczuk. The idea is to see more seniors continue living at home, and it really took off after the COVID-19 pandemic when long-term care homes experienced safety concerns from living in a shared environment.
During the program’s initial run in 2022-2023, Moose Jaw was allocated $20,000 in grant funding.
The renewed program will help support existing measures and allow new efforts to be trialed by local organizations, but no specific dollar amount has been announced yet.
Most seniors in Canada are living independently, and according to the National Institute on Ageing, almost 100 per cent of Canadians 65 years and older stated their preference is to remain living at home.
Independent life has many challenges however, which include home maintenance tasks, yard care, home-based health services, transportation, and meal preparation. The goal of the program is to support the community-based resources that help seniors navigate these concerns.
“Older adults want to have choices about how they live, and they need support to live in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting based on their needs,” SSM’s executive director Holly Schick said.
“Through grants like these, communities are able to explore creative possibilities to provide this kind of support. We appreciate the Government of Saskatchewan’s willingness to work with us to provide grants to facilitate independence.”
The program is led by the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM) in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.
SSM is an umbrella organization that gives Saskatchewan’s senior organizations a unified voice. This is achieved by researching and acting on senior-specific issues, creating awareness of available resources and services, and partnering with member organizations to help provide these measures.
The organization’s vision is to provide a higher quality of life for Saskatchewan’s older adults, and thanks to its support, our local seniors will have far less to worry about in the years to come.
Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism can be reached at 306-359-9956.
For more information, you can visit the SSM’s website at SKSeniorsMechanism.ca.
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