NEWS RELEASE
CHATS
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Ontario’s seniors deserve the choice to live their lives safely and independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Given the appropriate amount of home and community support services, many older adults are able to continue to live and thrive at home — where they want to be.
That’s why CHATS (Community and Home Assistance to Seniors) has launched its pre-election advocacy program in an attempt to shine a light on funding gaps for agencies like theirs who provide essential in-home and community care to older adults in communities across York Region and South Simcoe.
The CHATS campaign, titled “Invest in Home and Community Support Services for a Better Future For All,” is designed to alert all candidates in the upcoming provincial election to the disparate focus on institutional care, and the need for firm commitments to invest more in services that keep older adults with dignity, in their own homes.
“This election, coming as it does on the tail of what seniors have experienced through the pandemic, is an opportune time to raise the consciousness of those vying to be elected to represent their constituents, many of whom are seniors,” says Christina Bisanz, CEO, CHATS. “The demand for in-home and community services is growing exponentially and there’s no time to wait.”
Home and community support services provide a viable and cost-effective care option for seniors and their families who choose to age in place.
“In addition to in-home personal support and assisted living, community services such as adult day programs, transportation, Meals on Wheels, wellness programs for social engagement, and home maintenance supports, to name a few, provide a proven benefit to the quality of life that seniors in our community deserve,” says Bisanz.
In its advocacy campaign, CHATS is asking both electors and candidates to be aware of the hard facts of how home and community services for seniors have been historically underfunded, with wage inequities causing difficulties for recruitment and hiring qualified employees.
“We are asking candidates to commit, if elected, to ensuring that funding decisions equitably reflect the need to invest more in seniors care now, to ensure a better future for all,” says Bisanz. “The demographics are unavoidable, with a growing population of older adults who do not want institutional care to be the default simply because the other options are underfunded and under-resourced.”
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