As population ages, Manitoba retiree says many seniors don't have enough to live on

Some Manitoba seniors, and those who serve them, say the way older Canadians are currently treated shows that the country isn't ready to support an aging population.

Many of the province's older residents are lonely, hungry and often can't get access to services they need to live independent lives, they say.

"The amount of money that a person who's on Old Age Security gets is inadequate. Totally wrong," said John Stephenson, a retiree living in Winnipeg.

He was reacting to census data released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday, showing that Canada's workforce is older than ever.

With one of every five adults in Canada on the cusp of retirement, there are more prospective retireespeople aged 55 to 64 than people just entering the workforce (those age15 to 24).

As well, the over-85populationis expected to triple from 861,000 to 2.7 million in the next three decades, according to Statistics Canada.

Stephenson, who worked for 20 years in the correctional services, and retired as Manitoba's chief corrections officer, says Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan don't provide enough for most people.

Stephenson says he's all right, havingworked in government, but is concerned about people who do not have a private pension orsavings, "or who worked in minimum wage jobs all their life."

"I feel sympathy for those ones who are in that situation. I don't know how they exist sometimes," he said.

The Old Age Security paymentsshould be doubled, he says.

Lack of services

Even when some services are free for seniors, advocates say manyhave trouble accessing them.

Megan Wallace, who co-ordinates the volunteer program Support to Seniors, says she's seeing a large number of people usingfood banks.

"More than ever before, but they can't get to the food bank to get their food," she said.

Transportation is "a huge issue" for Manitoba's seniors, she said.

Support to Seniors operates out of the Good Neighbours Active Living Centre in Winnipeg. Wallace says it helps older people with basic daily living activities,includingthings like budgeting, transportation andsocialization.

Wallace, who sometimes arranges for food bank packages to be collected, says food security is an issue for seniors.

"Even with using the food bank, that food is only coming once a month and it's just a boxone box. And it is a growing concern. We definitely have some food equity challenges."

Mental health support is one of the other main gaps in the system, according to Wallace. She notes that there are programs for seniors in Manitoba that are "phenomenal but they're always full."

"And when a senior is struggling with even something like suicide, then you need those services now, not nine months from now," she said.

Governments should invest in more programming like hers, she says, with people who are workingin the community and can reach out to seniors.

"We do need more social services for mental health care not just awareness, but the actual care and transportation," she said.

Family support and volunteers

Stephenson and his wife now live in an apartment at the Good Neighbours Active Living Centre, on Henderson Highway,after movingfrom a three-bedroom house in North Kildonan.

The move let them livecloser to the services they need. Their doctor is now a five-minute walk away. They also have access toa library and "all of the stuff you would need to enjoy retirement," Stephenson says.

He considers himself lucky to have relatives who live nearby: four children, four grandchildren, plus step-grandchildren and other relatives. In non-pandemic times, he and his wife are active in their church community too, he said.

But "most people that live in these two buildings are not in the same financial or family situation," he said.

"They're lonely. They're by themselves. They have problems."

A seniors' club he's part of makes a difference for those who don't have family connections, he says.

"We get together, we have meals, we have concerts, we have cards. Every night of the week there's something going on in the room upstairs," he said.

For others who want to help,Wallace says there are a lot of volunteer opportunities.

"Call a senior in your life," Wallace said.

"If you don't have someone, volunteer, connect with a program. Go to a local senior centre and get involved. It only takes a little bit."

Supporting our aging population

2 years ago

Duration 2:02

Ottawa has released the numbers from the latest census. It found 19% of Canadians are seniors. Statistics Canada predicts that in three decades about a quarter of our population will be over 65. Older people and advocates say it's time to look at better funding to help seniors.