June 20, 2025

It happens every year. Ontario proclaims June as Seniors Month, and government tells us to “acknowledge and honour” the older adults in our midst. You can request congratulations for a milestone birthday or anniversary from federal or provincial officials or even from royalty. You can nominate an older adult for an Ontario Senior Achievement Award. You can post messages and join in conversations on social media. It’s quite the flurry of activity.

Government also tells us what it is doing. This year’s theme is Fit, Active and Healthy Seniors, so there is the usual emphasis on seniors active living centres. The Seniors Community Grant program funds not-for-profit groups that offer programs and workshops. There are information guides to programs and services. The provincial government also reminds us of benefits and tax credits available to older adults.

If you think you’ve seen all this before – including the ageist and condescending tone – it’s because you have. Longer lives don’t automatically come with shorter memories, and these are the same offerings government serves up every June. There have been a few recent improvements – more seniors active living centres, wider eligibility for Guaranteed Annual Income System payments, and a new community grant program stream for veterans. These are helpful, but they don’t meet the actual needs of most older Ontarians.

“What we want is to stay fit, active, and healthy in our own homes.”

The flurry of activities is just that – a flurry. It conceals the lack of services developed in consultation with older adults – services that will make a difference to them. Here is a start.

Access to a range of home and community services. These services, from basic housekeeping to support for daily activities, make it possible for many older adults to remain in their homes.

Services that we can be sure are safe and high quality. When all providers must meet consistent standards, we can rely on their services.

Enough people to deliver those services. The personal support workers who provide most home care need the pay, benefits, and working conditions to make them want to keep working in the community.

A cash benefit for the many unpaid caregivers who sacrifice to provide care. Without them, our home care system would collapse.

When government shows us what they are doing to meet the real needs of older Ontarians and the people who care for them, that’s when we’ll have something to celebrate.

What can you do?

Don’t put up with ageist language. It’s unacceptable to talk to older adults and about older adults with condescension. When you hear it or see it, call it out.

Think about what’s important to you and to the older adults you know. Then insist on it.

Contact your elected representatives and ask what they are doing about what matters to you.