The city has cut a program that offered free services for low-income seniors \u2014 including lawn care, snow shovelling and housekeeping \u2014 leaving some worried about how they will manage.<\/p>\n
The Home Services for Seniors program provided services at no direct cost for 1,320 eligible seniors aged 65 and older, but will end effective Sept. 30, the city said.<\/p>\n
Although the program was administered through the city, it was provincially funded, and its clients are now being redirected toward similar services offered directly by the province.<\/p>\n
“As the program has grown over the years, it has become more complex for the city to manage, and required city tax dollars to help run it,” the city said in a Tuesday statement, noting that Calgary was the only municipality in Alberta that administered the program on the province’s behalf.<\/p>\n
“Moving to the same system used across Alberta allows the city to focus on its core municipal responsibilities while ensuring eligible seniors continue to have access to provincial support.”<\/p>\n
Lorraine Barton, 86, has been using the city’s program for at least 15 years, and is now worried about what that could mean for her.<\/p>\n
Though she’s still able to do indoor housework herself, she relies on a cane or a walker to get around, and is unable to mow her lawn or shovel snow.<\/p>\n
Those were the only two services she accessed through the program, but she said the job was always done well, ensuring she could safely get outside to take the garbage out or go for a walk.<\/p>\n
But two weeks ago, she received a letter informing her the service was coming to an end, and when she reached out to the province, she was told her income was slightly too high to qualify for its equivalent services.<\/p>\n
Seniors eligible for provincial program based on income<\/p>\n
The province’s Special Needs Assistance for Seniors offers financial assistance and personal supports for low-income seniors, but eligibility is based on tiered income levels.<\/p>\n
Single seniors whose income is $28,290 or less, and senior couples with $45,600 or less, are eligible for all services, while singles with an income of $28,291 to $32,690, or couples with $45,601 to $53,800, are only eligible for certain supports. Those with incomes above those thresholds don’t qualify at all.<\/p>\n
“If they don’t continue it, I have to sell my house,” Barton said. Even if she did qualify for the provincial supports, the program would require her to pay for services up front and then submit a receipt for reimbursement \u2014 but she said there’s “no earthly way” she could afford the out-of-pocket payments.<\/p>\n
“This is absolutely ridiculous, what they’re doing to seniors. Not just to me \u2014 to every senior that’s here. I’ve only talked to a few people, and they’ve all been taken off of something,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Some of them can hardly move and they lose their housekeeping. None of it makes any sense.”<\/p>\n