Information
Prior Content
Search
Links
Government of Canada to help alleviate social isolation through New Horizons for Seniors Program 2015-2016 Call for Proposals for Pan-Canadian Projects
March 27, 2015 – Gatineau, Quebec – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced today that a call for proposals for pan-Canadian projects funded through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) will be launched in mid-May 2015 and be open for six weeks. Successful projects will focus exclusively on addressing social isolation among seniors and will be funded between $150,000 and $750,000, over a period of up to three years.
Social isolation involves low quantity and quality of contact with others, the absence of social roles and the absence of mutually rewarding relationships. It can be triggered by certain events, such as the loss of a spouse, a change in income or an illness. Social isolation is associated with higher levels of depression and suicide in seniors. The risk of hospitalization is four to five times greater for socially isolated seniors. Social isolation can also leave seniors vulnerable to elder abuse, including financial abuse.
In their 2014 report, the National Seniors Council highlighted the importance of working with a wide array of organizations which deliver services and programs in an efficient and effective manner to alleviate isolation among older Canadians. Their report is available at Canada.ca/Seniors.
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is a national social innovation leader. For this call for proposals, the Government of Canada is partnering with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and its Innoweave initiative to support the development and implementation of innovative community-wide approaches to reduce social isolation among seniors.
In the upcoming call for proposals, priority will be given to innovative applications from communities that will use a coordinated approach to reducing the social isolation of seniors. This will likely result in successful applications being geographically grouped. These new partnerships will be multi-sectoral, involving the traditional and new players required to generate significant change.
For more information, please contact Employment and Social Development Canada at: pnha-nhsp@servicecanada.gc.ca.
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and promoting seniors’ health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.
- Economic Action Plan 2014 increased funding for the NHSP by $5 million per year, for a total of $50 million provided to this program annually.
- Since 2006, $2.8 billion in annual tax relief has been provided to seniors and pensioners.
Quotes
“More Canadians are getting older and living longer. Our Government is committed to ensuring Canadians’ quality of life by taking action to eliminate the social isolation of seniors. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed now.”
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)
“The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is pleased that its Innoweave initiative will be working with the Government of Canada and community partners to reduce social isolation for seniors. This is a pressing challenge that calls out for collaborative approaches to social innovation.”
– Stephen Huddart, President and CEO, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
“The National Seniors Council was pleased to have reported on the issue of the social isolation of seniors in 2013–2014, and we are delighted to be continuing our study in that regard. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage Canadians to read our report, which is available at Canada.ca/Seniors. We welcome the response of the Government in announcing its intention to proceed with this initiative within the New Horizons for Seniors Program, in conjunction with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.”
– Dr. Andrew Wister, Chair, National Seniors Council
Associated Links
New Horizons for Seniors Program