Hello,
I am working hard to ensure that older Canadians continue to see improvements in their quality of life, and I’m dedicated to identifying ways that the Government of Canada can better provide seniors with supports that will have the most positive impact on their lives, at the time they need them the most.
That is why the Government of Canada will be increasing the Old Age Security pension by 10% for individuals aged 75 and over, starting in July of this year—because we know that older seniors have different needs and face increased financial pressures. This boost to the Old Age Security pension will help them enjoy more financial security as they age.
In June, we celebrate Canada’s diversity and recognize the importance of Indigenous heritage. During National Indigenous History Month, I want to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across Canada. I encourage you to learn the history, languages, cultures and experiences of Indigenous people in Canada.
I would also like to commemorate the launch of Pride season, Italian Heritage month, Filipino Heritage month and Portuguese Heritage month, which are all celebrated in the month of June.
June is Seniors Month in Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut. This month, and all year round, we recognize seniors and their countless contributions to their communities.
In this edition of my newsletter, you’ll find information about the launch of Age Well at Home, an initiative I’m very excited about. I encourage all eligible organizations to apply for funding to help ensure that more seniors can stay in their homes longer. I also highlight World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Canada Pension Plan enhancement and more.
Please take a moment to share this link with friends and colleagues so that they can sign up to receive my updates.
Thanks for reading and sharing.
Kamal Khera
Minister of Seniors
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Launch of Age Well at Home initiative
Did you know that with the right supports and services, older adults can age at home for longer, rather than entering supportive care? The Age Well at Home initiative, announced in Budget 2021, will provide funding to eligible organizations to deliver support to help low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors to continue living safely, independently and comfortably in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Organizations can apply for funding through two streams:
The Government of Canada launched the calls for proposals for Age Well at Home on June 8, 2022. Organizations have until July 22, 2022, to submit their proposal, and they are encouraged to do so using the online application form. For more information on how to apply, visit the In-Home Support Pilot Projects stream and the Scaling Up for Seniors stream.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
On June 15, we marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to recognize and raise awareness about the effects of abuse on older people. Elder abuse is often perpetrated by a person of trust and can take on many forms: physical and sexual abuse, neglect, psychological or financial abuse. Raising awareness and recognizing the signs of elder abuse are the first steps to help prevent and end it.
For example, you could look for:
I am committed to continue working to strengthen Canada’s approach to elder abuse by finalizing the national definition of elder abuse, investing in better data collection and establishing new offences and penalties in the Criminal Code related to elder abuse. I am working with my colleague, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, to advance this work. One older Canadian suffering from abuse is one too many.
Let’s work toward a safer Canada for our aging population!
Canada Pension Plan enhancement
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) enhancement is a component of the CPP that was introduced in January 2019. The Government of Canada worked with provinces to enhance the CPP in order to provide today’s workers with more money they can count on when they retire. The CPP enhancement increases the amount of the CPP retirement pension, disability pension, survivor’s pension and post-retirement benefit of people who have worked and contributed to the CPP in 2019 or after. The enhancement is not a separate benefit, but rather a top-up to the original CPP.
Since June 7, 2022, eligible Canadians have begun receiving the enhanced component of their CPP benefits. Eligible recipients can expect to receive their first enhanced payment over the course of the next few months. This payment will also include any retroactive amounts owing.
Join our study on reverse mortgages—participants to be compensated!
Employment and Social Development Canada is undertaking a study on reverse mortgages and is looking for participants aged 55 and over. If you currently have, used to have, or are applying for a reverse mortgage, we want to hear from you!
If you’d like to participate, you can contact us by phone at 1-833-540-3290 or by email at [email protected]. Your participation will be compensated!
10% increase to the Old Age Security pension for seniors aged 75 and older
Canadians are living longer than ever before. As they age, older adults tend to have lower incomes and often face higher health-related expenses because of the onset of illness or disability. This financial vulnerability is further compounded by fewer opportunities to supplement income with paid work and the risk of outliving personal savings. That is why the Government is taking action to help make life more affordable for older Canadians by increasing the Old Age Security pension by 10% for pensioners aged 75 or older, starting in July 2022. This will provide an extra $766 for full pensioners over the first year.
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines: get booster doses
While COVID-19 can make anyone sick, Canadians over the age of 50 are at higher risk of complications.
Evidence indicates that the vaccines used in Canada are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID?19. Protection from COVID?19 vaccines can decrease over time, and vaccines have been less effective against the currently circulating Omicron variants. Booster doses increase the immune response and help remind the immune system how to protect itself.
While it is possible to get sick with COVID?19 after getting a booster, the booster helps:
While previous COVID?19 infection can provide some protection, up-to-date vaccinations, including booster doses, offer longer-lasting protection and better effectiveness.
That’s why it’s important for people to get their booster doses as soon as they are eligible in their province or territory.
Stay safe this summer
As the temperature rises and summer activities get underway, it is extremely important, especially for seniors, to take precautions to stay safe and prevent heat-related illnesses.
As we age, our bodies lose some natural ability to regulate temperature, making seniors more susceptible to temperature changes in the environment.
As the season changes and heat increases, here are a few tips to stay safe this summer:
In addition to this, there are many health risks of extreme heat events, but if you follow these tips, the chances of harmful effects decrease.
Are you returning to Canada from abroad?
ArriveCAN continues to be mandatory for all travellers entering Canada.
Before arriving in Canada, regardless of how long you’ve been away or your vaccination status, you must submit your information in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before arriving at the border. If you are arriving by cruise ship you must submit your information within 72 hours before boarding.
ArriveCAN is available to download as a free mobile app on your smartphone or online at Canada.ca/arrivecan
ArriveCAN is the only official Government of Canada platform that requires your mandatory contact, travel and health information before entering Canada. Recent improvements to the app are making it easier and faster to use:
Find out how to create your ArriveCAN account, troubleshoot problems and contact us on the ArriveCAN help page.
Information resources
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) will celebrate Seniors Month in June with several education and OSC in the Community outreach events focused on fraud prevention.