A one-stop website for seniors, free high-dose flu shots and $15 million over two years for 'naturally occurring' retirement communities are part of a new provincial strategy for seniors.
'Aging With Confidence: Ontario's Action Plan for Seniors' was unveiled Thursday by Barrie MPP Ann Hoggarth at the Parkview Community Centre on Blake Street.
"It strengthens seniors' abilities to be independent, healthy and active, safe and socially connected. This is a wide-ranging plan that supports wide-ranging needs and includes new programs and services and it builds on successful intiitatives," Hoggarth told a crowd of seniors.
"Fundamentally, this action plan reflects how Ontario seniors have told us that they want to live their lives. Independence tops the list. People want to live independently for as long as possible. This holds true for most of the seniors we talk to here in Barrie as well."
The website for seniors will offer information about tax credits, drug coverage, powers of attorney, recreation programs and more.
Seniors will also get a free, yearly, high-dose flu vaccine at a cost of $17 million per year starting in th 2018-19 flu season.
The province is also making what it calls a 'once in a generation investment' in long-term care by creating over 30,000 new long-term care beds over the next decade to keep pace with the needs of an aging population.
Once fully phased in, the provincial average of direct care per resident per day is being increased to four hours.
Hoggarth says this will mean an additional 1.5 million hours of nursing, personal support and therapeutic care for long-term care residents right across Ontario.
"Social connection is as important as independence. Research tells us that being connected with people and activities is vital to seniors' health and well-being. That's why our plan also highlights fighting social isolation and helping seniors to be active and involved," she said.
Under the plan, Ontario's network of seniors' active living centres will grow by 40 to more than 300 hubs across the province. There will be more local projects to help seniors get out and about in our community, whether volunteering, learning or meeting new people.
New programs will support physical health, mentoring volunteering and engaging through the arts. The action plan also recognizes home care is a key consideration for many so it includes more home care hours, greater consistency.
The Liberal government is committing more than $15 million over two years to 'naturally occurring' retirement communities.
"If an apartment building in Barrie is already home to many seniors, services and social programs could be introduced where they live, helping them age in place," said Hoggarth.
There are more than 2 million seniors in Ontario. Older adults make up Ontario's fastest-growing age group with more people now 65 or older than under 15.
"It's very important to us that we look after you," said Hoggarth
You can visit the seniors' website at Ontario.ca/AgingWell
