Policy and Research Articles
COMMENTARY AND CRITIQUE OF
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING REPORT ON SMALL HOMES
January 27, 2025​
The National Institute on Aging markets itself as “Canada’s leading public policy think tank on aging” located at Metropolitan University in Toronto. It states its vision as “A Canada where older adults feel valued, included, supported and better prepared to age with confidence” (NIA, 2025).
The NIA’s latest report There’s No Place Like Home: Why Canada Must Prioritize Small Care Models in its Provision of Long-Term Care (Sinha et al, 2025) fails to live up to its vision.
POLICY STATEMENT – AGING IN PLACE
NON-PROFIT ASSISTED LIVING OPTIONS FOR
OLDER ADULTS
November 25, 2024
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In 2022 HomeEquity Bank and IPSOS conducted a poll of adults 45+. Their research found that 95% of Canadians in this age group wanted to be able to age in place to maintain their independence, comfort, and dignity. 92% agreed that they would prefer in-home care over moving to a long-term care institution.
INFORMATION BULLETIN
May 21, 2024
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ELDERS TAKE CHARGE –
THE AMBLESIDE MOVEMENT, OTTAWA
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As older adults, we can't wait for the Ontario government to get its values and priorities straight and help us to age in place within our communities. It is time to do what this generation has always done, initiate change ourselves.
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That is exactly what elders in Ambleside in Ottawa are doing, and kudos to them for taking control of their own lives and building their own support system.
This model can be replicated in every community in Ontario if a small group of people decide to change their world.
March 4, 2024
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HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS MESS? THE HISTORY OF LONG-TERM CARE “REFORM” IN ONTARIO
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Based on Private Interests or the Public Interest? A Critical Examination of the Role of Stakeholder Groups in the Development of a Long-Term Care Policy in Ontario 1989-1994. A doctoral thesis by Patricia Spindel, University of Toronto, 1996 with updated Prologue and Epilogue, 2024
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“It is a measure of what has become important in long term care, considering who those with power are in this system, that representatives of government, the service system, and society at large seem more concerned about "beds", than the people in them, and about "units of labour" and "full time equivalents (FTE's)", than about the people who provide care on a daily basis to those who are old, sick, disabled, and dying. It is also perhaps, a measure of what we all do not want to face as human beings, that we talk about case mix indexes (CMI's) rather than about who lives in long term care facilities, what they need, and what their experiences of their lives are. By medicalizing the natural process of aging, and by institutionalizing it, we may believe that we can somehow control it, or at least if that fails, divorce ourselves from it. As long as we tuck aging, disability, and death into institutions, out of sight, out of mind, we may believe that we can continue to deny its existence in our own lives.” (Pg. 2, 1996)
INFORMATION BULLETIN
January 15, 2024
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CASH FOR CARE, MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON. WHO CARES WHAT THEY CALL IT?
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Here is a happy thought to start off the new year.
Some of the lead researchers in Canada have heard us loud and clear about the need to have money follow the person, not be tied to service providers. In the U.S. it is predictably called Money Follows the Person (Medicaid, n.d.). In other places in the world it is called Cash for Care.
INFORMATION BULLETIN
January 2, 2024
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STARTING THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT WITH RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS SUPPORTING LOVED ONES WITH DEMENTIA AND OTHER COGNITIVE DISABILITIES
For too long we, in Canada, have simply accepted a tragedy narrative about dementia and other cognitive disabilities. We see those who have them as a burden requiring care, and institutionalize them in the thousands. Dementia is one of the least understood conditions, in spite of its prevalence.
INFORMATION BULLETIN
December 7, 2023
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ONTARIO HEALTH TEAMS
This Bulletin is intended to address the significant interest of Seniors for Social Action Ontario’s membership in Ontario Health Teams – what they are intended to do, how they relate to home care (HCCSS), and how members can find more information about them.
IS HOME CARE WORKING IN ONTARIO?
A REVIEW OF HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE
SUPPORT SERVICES
Over the past three and a half years Seniors for Social Action Ontario's leadership has been hearing from members about their difficulty in accessing appropriate levels of Home Care. For many, this has caused anxiety and despair, with some considering Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) because of this lack of support. This is what has led SSAO to undertake research for this report.
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Hours of volunteer work went into the preparation of this report. Please take the time to read the full report and consider sharing it with your MPs and MPPs.
Below are the links to both the Executive Summary and Full Report:
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SYSTEMIC AND INTERNALIZED AGEISM
ABANDONMENT, REJECTION, STIGMATIZATION, SEGREGATION, EXCLUSION, AND BEING IGNORED
Ageism has become an epidemic in Canada and it is having an extremely debilitating effect on the mental and physical health of older adults.
This Brief to Federal and Provincial Ministers responsible for aging policies reflects the voices of elders themselves. It is Seniors for Social Action Ontario's hope that the policy makers will finally listen.
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HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE SUPPORT SERVICES (HCCSS) CLIENT SURVEY REPORT
September 2023
To date there have been no independent reports available from HCCSS service users' perspectives. This represents the first survey report conducted independently of HCCSS or the Home Care industry in Ontario that elevates the voices of service users and their families.
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A more comprehensive research report is currently being prepared, but these survey results provide a glimpse of a home care system that is struggling with inadequate funding and resources from the Ministry of Health and Province of Ontario. This is having a negative effect on service users.
A Freedom of Information request has been filed with the Ministry of Health asking for specific information concerning HCCSS's budget and how the promised $1 billion in additional funds for Home Care have been spent.
FINAL RESEARCH REPORT - COLLABORATION BETWEEN HUMBER COLLEGE AND SSAO
April 20, 2023​
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This past year Seniors for Social Action Ontario (SSAO) collaborated with Humber College's Degree Program in Community Development on research seeking SSAO members' views about what supports and services they thought were necessary to help them to age in place.
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SSAO is very happy to share with you the research report documenting the students' work. We want to thank Lisa Post and Alexa Christopoulos for their hard work and dedication, and for so accurately capturing the views of SSAO members.
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Blue Zones and Healthy Aging
​John Lord
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This article appeared in the Waterloo Region Record on March 1, 2023.
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March 6, 2023
TAKING MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS
COMMUNITY CREATIVITY AND
RESILIENCE IN ACTION:
THE MOUNT COMMUNITY CENTRE, PETERBOROUGH
February 13, 2023
INFORMATION BULLETIN
January 23, 2023
THE IMPACT OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION - SURVIVOR’S STORIES
In May of 2021, SSAO distributed an editorial on Creating Change in an Entrenched Long-Term Care System: Lessons From the Past (SSAO, 2021). It details that where we are now with the mass institutionalization of elders is exactly where we were in 1971 with the mass institutionalization of people with developmental disabilities.
Except that things are even worse now.
​Research Bulletin
A Changed Role for PSWs:
Enter Community Care Workers
January 2, 2023
TAKING MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS
HEALTH CARE CO-OPS – IS IT TIME?
December 5, 2022
LINKING RESEARCH TO POLICY AND PRACTICE
DOING WITH OR DOING FOR? REABLEMENT AS AN OLDER ADULTS’ EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY
November 21, 2022
RESEARCH REPORT
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN WHO HELPS RESIDENTS RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY
October 20, 2022
INFORMATION BULLETIN
September 16, 2022
IMPACT OF BILL 7
On Thursday, September 15, 2022, the Toronto Star reported on Bill 7’s possible impact. There are several important takeaways in the article.
The first is the widespread fear the Ford government’s actions are causing. There is a perception among old, sick people and their families that this government has weaponized hospitals to take action against them if they or their families dare to resist or speak out. Sue, the subject of the Star’s report, asked that her last name be kept private over “fear of repercussions for speaking out on the new legislation…”
PRECEDENT!
Federal Government Partners with City Of Toronto to Create Staffed 24/7 Housing and Support for People at Risk of Homelessness Including Older Adults
July 28, 2022
TAKING MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS
CO-HOUSING OR SHARED OWNERSHIP –
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONS
July 11, 2022
TAKING MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS
CARE CO-OPERATIVES – A BETTER APPROACH TO CARING FOR EACH OTHER
July 4, 2022
HOW LOCAL COUNCILORS CAN ACT TO PROMOTE ALTERNATIVES
TO INSTITUTIONS
THE EXAMPLE OF PACE, BURLINGTON
June 20, 2022
POLICY AND PLANNING BRIEF
TO
PORT HOPE COUNCIL
October 25, 2021
Posted: June 23, 2022
A RESIDENTIAL ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
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June 13, 2022
Social Task Shifting:
What’s different about directly-funded home care?
Christine Kelly
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June 10, 2022
Hospice Palliative Care:
Key Component of Comprehensive Elder Care
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June 5, 2022
Enhancing HomeCare:
Enabling a Full Life in Community
Linda Till
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​March 15, 2022
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​AGING WELL WITH "NATURAL SUPPORTS"
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John Lord
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​March 8, 2022
​Information Bulletin
COMMUNITY FIRST CHOICE:
PERSON-DIRECTED SERVICES TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME
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​March 1, 2022
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DEMENTIA VILLAGES:
A NEW TYPE OF INSTITUTION?
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​February 15, 2022
​Research, Evidence, and Elder Care Reform
John Lord
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January 27, 2022
Pervasive Ageism and Bias Toward
Older Adults in the Healthcare System
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Emma Rowland
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December 20, 2021
Direct Funding Can Enhance Home Care for Elders
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John Lord
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December 7, 2021
RESEARCH REPORT –
MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON
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​NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Eldercare Reform –
A Provincial Election Priority
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​NOVEMBER 4, 2021