AdvantAge Ontario urges Ontario politicians to take ‘home first’ approach for seniors
Toronto, Ontario (February 13, 2025) – U.S. tariffs should not overtake the conversation during the current election campaign, according to a group representing not-for-profit seniors’ care, which is urging political hopefuls to come up with bold ideas to make it easier for seniors to age at home.
“Tariffs need to be taken seriously, but they shouldn’t trump everything,” said Lisa Levin, Chief Executive Officer of AdvantAge Ontario. “Election campaigns are a competition of ideas to solve society’s biggest challenges. For us, the most important challenge is how we prepare for a massive wave of seniors heading our way.”
In a document released today, AdvantAge Ontario is calling for several major shifts in seniors’ care.
The association would like to see government adopt a ‘home first’ approach by providing substantial new supports for seniors so they can stay in their own homes and live independently longer. That includes investing in community wellness hubs, which are publicly funded health and social care programs for seniors in affordable housing. It also includes more programs like Nursing Home Without Walls, which gives seniors care services provided by their local long-term care home.
“Right now, if you’re a senior in Ontario and you require care, the options are limited,” said Levin. “You can choose between long-term care homes, which should only be reserved for the most serious cases, and home care, which is woefully underfunded. If you have sufficient resources, you can move to a retirement home. But that option is not available for the lower- and middle-income people that make up the majority of Ontario seniors. As a result, too many seniors are ending up in emergency departments, which is the costliest and least appropriate destination for them.”
AdvantAge Ontario is also calling for construction of 5,000 new units of affordable supportive housing for seniors.
The group would like to see governments solve persistent staffing shortages in rural and northern communities by investing in housing and transportation for healthcare staffing.
Finally, they are calling on any future government to close the wage gap between healthcare workers in various parts of the healthcare sector with $500 million annual investments over the next five years.
The calls for more senior-focused policy ideas are supported by demographics.
Ontario’s official projections show our population aged 75 and older will more than double in the next 25 years, to 2.7 million.
“We need to wake up and ask our politicians how they’ll help seniors live at home longer,” said Levin. “We need to hear their vision.”
AdvantAge Ontario is a non-partisan association representing non-profit providers of seniors’ care. The association does not endorse political parties or candidates.
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AdvantAge Ontario is a non-partisan association representing more than 500 providers of non-profit long-term care, seniors’ housing, supportive housing, and community service agencies.
To arrange an interview with Lisa Levin, please contact Chris Noone, Manager of Communications and Member Services, at cnoone@advantageontario.ca.