Help seniors choose their housing

Re: Ontario’s retirement home residents need health-care funding too, April 23.

We applaud Blair Roblin for highlighting the benefit of a self-directed care model, a voucher system or monthly allowance, which the Ontario Retirement Communities Association believes could help seniors pay for their housing or their care needs and stay in the community longer.

A 2018 poll by DART Insight and Communications for ORCA shows that 79 per cent of Canadians worry about having enough money to pay for their care when they need it, while 71 per cent worry about being a burden on their family if they can’t look after themselves. Ninety-four per cent of Canadians agreed that social isolation is associated with higher health risks and 91 per cent of Canadians agreed that they do not want to be socially isolated in their later years.

That’s why ORCA has been championing what we call a Senior Services Benefit, a monthly allowance that flows directly to the senior, so every person is empowered to choose when it comes to where they live and thrive. Other countries are already using this kind of self-directed care model.

It’s a little help that could go a long way — this monthly allowance that helps keep seniors out of hospital and long-term care — and ensures independence longer.

Choice is important and some seniors do choose to make retirement communities their homes. They choose their neighbourhoods, their rooms, their services, their future.

These choices are something every senior should have a right to.

Laurie Johnston, CEO, Ontario Retirement Communities Association