Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

FEDERAL MINISTER OF SENIORS

Federal Seniors Minister says more needs to be done for Canadians over 65

Jul 8, 2019 | 5:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — According to the most recent Census data, 2016 was the first year there were more Canadians over the age of 65 than there were citizens under the age of 14.

With more Baby Boomers approaching the age of retirement, the number of seniors could continue to rise. On Saturday, Canada’s Minister of Seniors was in Kamloops touring facilities that provide essential services to elderly citizens.

With the increasing number of Canadian seniors, it’s an issue that Canadians of all ages need to address.

Fresh off a stop in Vernon, the Federal Minister of Seniors Filomena Tassi, was in Kamloops Saturday. The Minister was given a tour of the Kamloops Food Bank, which recently received a grant from the Enabling Accessibility Fund to improve accessibility for Food Bank clients.

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“The federal government has given an investment of just over $3,000 so that those coming to the front can access the food bank,” Tassi explained as the reason for her stop in Kamloops.

Since 2014, the food bank has seen a steady increase in the number of seniors who access the service. In 2018, they served more than 700 clients who were over the age of 60.

According to Brandi Allen, Executive Director for the Centre for Seniors Information, the ever-increasing cost of living is just one of the challenges seniors are facing in Kamloops. Allen says it’s becoming more difficult for seniors in the community.

“By the time seniors reach out to us, I find they’re already in crisis,” Allen suggested. “There’s not much catching them upstream, so to speak. There needs to be a better avenue for us to give seniors information prior to actually being in a crisis.”

Both the federal and provincial governments have made significant commitments to improving the lives of seniors in Canada. Sometimes accessing information about these programs can be the barrier that prevents seniors from getting that assistance.

“I get a lot of phone calls and visits from seniors who need to fill out a government form, they need to send in an application for renewal of something and all of it’s online,” Allen said.

Minister Tassi was impressed by the level of engagement the staff at the Kamloops Food Bank have been able to secure from the community; she was also dismayed by the number of seniors who accessed the food bank regularly. With the percentage of the population of seniors set to increase in the next decade, she understands more needs to be done to help seniors in need.

“They’re estimating by 2030 that 25 percent of the population is going to be 65 or older,” Tassi said. “It’s good news because it means people are living longer. However, we want to ensure we’re prepared for that.”