The province’s Seniors’ Health and Well-Being Plan doesn’t stretch far enough, according to the opposition parties.
Health Minister John Hogan and Children, Seniors, and Social Development Minister Paul Pike announced the details of the plan at Confederation Building yesterday.
It includes several support programs for people over the age of 65 such as an aging well at home grant, a caregiver benefit, and increased funding under the home repair and home modification programs.
NDP leader Jim Dinn calls the supports a “drop in the bucket.”
He says government needs to “get in touch with what the real costs are” and put up amounts that reflect those costs.
PC Leader Tony Wakeham says while the extra support is welcome, “$400 for grocery delivery does not buy groceries.”
Wakeham says government needs to look at ways of providing direct support to seniors. One such option, which he has committed to doing, is indexing the seniors’ benefit to inflation.
He says that is a good place to start. He also thinks thresholds for who is eligible for the funding should be expanded, noting they haven’t changed in 10 years.