Question Period Note: Seniors and Healthy Aging

The Health Portfolio works with a wide range of partners on health promotion, disease prevention and research to support healthy aging as a public health priority.

The Government of Canada is committed to keeping seniors healthy and helping them maintain their independence and remain in their homes as long as possible.
Last October, my predecessors announced that the National Seniors Council (NSC) would serve as the expert panel to examine measures to support Canadians who wish to age in their own homes. The NSC submitted their report to Minister O’Regan and I at the end of September 2023. We look forward to reviewing this report in detail.
IF PRESSED ON THE NATIONAL SENIORS COUNCIL’S FINAL REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
The NSC was tasked with reviewing and providing recommendations on measures, including a potential new benefit, to further support older persons aging at home. The NSC has undertaken several activities to support this work, including an environmental scan, an online survey, and consultations with experts and stakeholders. The NSC submitted their final report to Minister O’Regan and I at the end of September. I look forward to reading the final report and having fulsome discussions with Minister O’Regan on the recommendations.

Acknowledging the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), in December 2021, the Prime Minister mandated the Minister of Health to promote seniors’ physical and mental health to enable older adults to live longer at home.
Aging at Home
Budget 2022 announced the Government’s intention to establish an expert panel, which was announced on October 6, 2022 by Ministers Duclos and Khera. The National Seniors Council is serving as an expert panel to examine measures, including a potential aging at home benefit, to support Canadians who wish to age in their own homes. The National Seniors Council submitted their report to Ministers at the end of September.
PHAC Initiatives
PHAC monitors and reports on the health of older Canadians, and promotes their health and wellbeing. Key areas of work include:
promoting age-friendly communities, where older adults and community leaders work to create supportive physical and social environments;
leading Canada’s contribution to the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing with a focus on improving the lives of older people, their families and the communities in which they live;
promoting fall prevention approaches by increasing public awareness, and improving the availability of data to inform public health decision-making; and
raising awareness of seniors’ mental health, including substance use, and working with partners to develop resources for seniors, families and health professionals.
Healthy aging initiatives can prevent illness and injury, reduce the impact of existing health conditions, help people recover from ill health and frailty, increase independence, and improve quality of life.
In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced $75 million to support the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project (HSPP) in New Brunswick, which is testing innovative solutions that support healthy aging. Results of these projects are being shared with jurisdictions across Canada.

Seniors are one of the fastest growing and increasingly diverse age groups in Canada.
The Government of Canada is providing $6 billion in federal funding over 10 years, starting in 2017, to support better home and community care, including palliative care.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) provides leadership and financial support to implement Canada’s national dementia strategy, launched in 2019. Federal investments in dementia research, surveillance, awareness initiatives, community-based projects, and guidance are supporting the implementation of the strategy.
PHAC invested $75 million in New Brunswick’s Healthy Seniors Pilot Project (2018-2025) to test innovative solutions to support healthy aging.