Seniors' Advocate releases a report with recommendations to put money back in the pockets of seniors

Other recommendations include, exempting households with a family net income of less than $29,402 from having to pay for their required home supports, implementing the Food First NL recommendation for a shared food delivery service, and increasing the amount of money per kilometer people traveling for medical appointments are eligible to receive through the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP)

The province’s Seniors’ Advocate released a report today which is the first step in attempting to address the cost of living challenges identified by seniors through an extensive consultation process including 1,400 seniors. Susan Walsh says thirty-two per cent (32%) of seniors said they did not have enough income to meet their financial needs and were unable to afford food, rent, medications and required medical services. She says this is contributing to poorer health outcomes and reduced quality of life. 

“This report, “What Golden Years?”   contains twelve (12) recommendations,” she says. “It aims to put a little more money back into the pockets of seniors and reduce costs to help seniors get a little more out of their money.” 

Walsh says this includes indexing the Seniors’ Benefit, reviewing both the maximum family net income threshold to receive it and exempting seniors in receipt of GIS from having to pay for their required home support. Others recommendations include, exempting households with a family net income of less than $29,402 from having to pay for their required home supports, implementing the Food First NL recommendation for a shared food delivery service, increasing the amount of money per kilometer people traveling for medical appointments are eligible to receive through the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP); and providing all people age 65 years and older free access to the high-dose influenza vaccine.