Seniors win with new initiatives
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Manitoba seniors will benefit from the Progressive Conservative government’s recent announcement of nearly $14 million annual funding for a variety of new and enhanced initiatives specifically for seniors.
A new self- and family-managed care program will offer “flexibility and autonomy to directly arrange home-care services that support seniors in maintaining independence,” according to the news release that accompanied the Feb. 22 announcement.
I was proud to have direct input into this initiative as I more than once relayed seniors’ casework concerns about home care to Seniors’ Minister Scott Johnston, who was always eager to take my calls and hear my perspective from on-the-ground situations, even taking evening calls to discuss real situations and systemic challenges.
Supplied photo
Rossmere MLA Andrew Micklefield offered his input to the provincial government’s recently announced seniors’ strategy
One new initiative is that Habitat for Humanity will receive expanded funding of $450,000 to assist in renovating and modifying existing housing for low-income Manitoba seniors, allowing them to stay living at home longer.
Palliative care services in Manitoba will also receive $1.3 million.
“The program will increase support for caregivers in all settings, improve the delivery of inpatient palliative care, and enhance training and awareness of palliative care for health provider,” according to the release.
A First Nation component will offer specialized care to indigenous seniors, while another aspect of the strategy involves caring for LGBTQ+ seniors.
A 36-page document explaining this vision, “Manitoba, A Great Place to Age: Provincial Seniors Strategy” is available free online here.
The document focuses on seven areas, discussing topics including affordable seniors’ housing, dementia support, redesigning home care, enhancing quality of care homes and expanding unpaid caregiver supports.
I am honoured to represent so many seniors. My own aging parents live in our area, and my church has many gracefully aging seniors. These are the people who built this province and gave us what we all now enjoy. They gave their best for us, and it’s right we do the same for them. Manitoba’s newly released seniors’ strategy does just that.
Contact my constituency office by calling 204-289-4545 or through my website: andrewmicklefield.com
Andrew Micklefield
Rossmere constituency report
Andrew Micklefield is PC MLA for Rossmere and the government whip for the Province of Manitoba.