Question Period Note: INDIGENOUS SENIORS

How is the government supporting Indigenous seniors?

• Since our government first came to office in 2015, we have been working to renew the relationship with Indigenous peoples—one based on respect, co-operation, partnership and recognition of rights.

• The Government is committed to ensure that reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples continues to move forward. This is why the Government is investing $35 million in 2019–20 to ensure that the Assisted Living Program continues to help meet the needs of Indigenous seniors and persons with disabilities.

• The Government also provided an additional $8.5 million over two years, starting in 2019–20, to work with First Nations and Inuit communities on developing a new and more holistic long-term care strategy.

• Members of First Nations communities who live on-reserve and have chronic illnesses or disabilities receive help through the Assisted Living Program, which provides daily living supports that help people maintain their independence and stay in their homes and communities. With a budget of $131 million in 2019-20, this program helps over 10,000 peoples each year, on an income-tested basis, providing services that include in-home care, adult foster care and long-term care facilities.

• While seniors are expected to be a key group in the development of a holistic continuum of long term care services, the scope will also include younger adults with disabilities.

• Other key and recent Government of Canada measures related to Indigenous seniors include:
o Indigenous Services Canada provides funding for home and community care, palliative care, and assisted living to support over 30,000 First Nations and Inuit, most of which are seniors, to receive the care they need.
o In Budget 2017, the Government committed $184.6 million over five years to improve home and palliative care for Indigenous communities. This funding is in addition to $110 million annually for First Nations and Inuit home and community care services.
o In December 2018, the Government announced a Framework on Palliative Care, which included a commitment to continue to work with National Indigenous Organizations to develop a palliative care framework specifically for Indigenous Peoples.
o Budget 2018 provided 3-year funding to expand outreach to all Indigenous communities in order to provide them with access to programs and services and increase benefit take up. This work includes information and support to access the Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplements programs.
o Indigenous Services Canada’s Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples provides funding to organizations to deliver a variety of holistic and culturally-appropriate programs and services to Indigenous peoples living in or transitioning to an urban centre. It also provides support to address challenges faced by some of the most at-risk community members, including Indigenous seniors.
o In November 2018, the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum released a Social Isolation of Seniors Toolkit Supplement, specifically regarding Indigenous Seniors. Indigenous seniors face a higher risk of experiencing social isolation due to factors such as racism, cultural differences and poverty.

KEY FACTS

• Even though Canada’s Indigenous population is a young population, the number of seniors is increasing.
o There were over 121,000 Indigenous individuals aged 65 and over in 2016, representing about only 6% of the Indigenous population compared to 14% for the non-Indigenous population.
o From 2001 to 2011, the number of Indigenous seniors more than doubled, a trend of rapid growth that is expected to continue in the coming decades.
o The number of Indigenous seniors living in population centres is increasing and more than half now live in population centres.