HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government plans to launch a program next year where community-based experts would be hired to help seniors access services intended to help them live in their homes longer.
Premier Darrell Dexter says $600,000 will be set aside to establish the program, though details on the number of experts that would be hired aren’t yet known.
Dexter says under the program, seniors would be able to call on the experts who would assess their needs and inform them of services they may be eligible for.
The Federation of Seniors and Pensioners says there have been cases where seniors have been unaware or had trouble accessing services.
“I would say thousands of seniors are neglected because they don’t have that someone near them to make out this application,” said Alma Johnston-Tynes, vice president of the federation.
The program is expected to help not only seniors but their families as well.
“Although the service will be aimed at supporting the senior, my belief is that it will often be the loved ones of those seniors who will benefit most directly from it and will be able to get the kidn of assistance they need,” Dexter said.
The government plans over the next few months to consult seniors, organizations and communities to develop details of the program.
– With files from Julia Wong
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