Province boosts seniors' mental health support

In an effort to strengthen community support for seniors' mental health the McGuinty government announced funds for the province-wide network for public education and training.

Full details contained in the news release below.

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The McGuinty government is investing $100,000 to increase awareness of the issues facing older persons living with mental illness and addictions, Minister Responsible for Seniors, Jim Bradley, announced today.

"It is a myth that mental illness is just a part of growing older," Bradley said. "Our government is pleased to support efforts to increase understanding of mental health and aging among the general public, caregivers and seniors."

The funds have been given to the Older Persons' Mental Health and Addictions Network (OPMHAN), whose membership includes more than 60 regional and provincial organizations.

The Older Persons' Mental Health and Addictions Network is the only province-wide organization that works exclusively to link the fields of aging, mental illness and addictions. The government investment will enable the Network to publish a brochure on aging and depression, train volunteers to present mental health seminars at seniors' information fairs, and hold 14 training sessions for staff of community agencies.

The McGuinty government's other initiatives to support Ontario's aging population include:


- Engaging in province-wide consultations with the goal of establishing a new regulatory framework for strengthening standards of care in Ontario retirement homes

- Enhancing the Ontario Property and Sales Tax Credits for seniors once again in 2007. This will result in $97 million in property tax relief this year for eligible seniors

- Providing $453,000 to 55 organizations across the province working to combat elder abuse in their communities

- Expanding the award-winning www.seniorsinfo.ca website for seniors to provide one-stop access to programs and services for seniors living in smaller municipalities across the province

- Ending mandatory retirement

- Ontario's Wait-Time Strategy which has resulted in a 41 per cent reduction in wait times for cataract surgery; 30 per cent reduction for knee replacements; 16 per cent reduction for cancer surgery.

"Our government is working with partners across Ontario to ensure that older adults can live in dignity, security and independence," Bradley said. "We are strengthening the capacity of our communities to meet the changing needs of today's seniors."

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