Since 1986, Elderaid has been offering a helping hand to the most destitute and lonely seniors so they can age with dignity and security, wherever they live.
To us, the marginalization, isolation, and poverty of a great number of seniors questions our intergenerational relationships and the importance our society places on seniors’ protection and well-being. Many seniors have great difficulty maintaining even a minimal social network. Others are totally left to themselves. This abandonment carries heavy consequences: each year, in the Montreal area alone, more than 150 seniors are found dead in their apartment. They died forgotten and alone, without getting the support they needed.
Recognizing the importance of taking action in the face of such a situation, the projects funded by Elderaid are primarily aimed to seniors facing poverty, lack of resources, or isolation.
Results that show…
Last year, we have distributed more than $350,000 to 33 community agencies, enabling them to help nearly 34,000 people.
Objectives
The general objective of Elderaid is to improve seniors’ quality of life by helping them remain in their community and valuing their contribution to society.
We give priority to initiatives that aim to maintain seniors in their natural environment, with decent living conditions. This often translates to activities and services that support the person’s efforts to remain independent as long as possible, and preserve their social relationships.
To better meet the current problems of needy seniors, we have set specific objectives for the next five years (2009-2013). Elderaid will support community activities and services aimed at meeting basic needs and providing access to a secure community environment, such as:
- Food aid (emergency food aid, purchasing healthy food, meals-on-wheels, preparation and distribution of frozen meals, collective kitchens, community meals);
- Supportive care and attention for people living at home or in community housing (friendship visits, respite care, support for family caregivers, transportation to medical appointments);
- Developing community venues and acquiring collective facilities adapted to the needs of seniors;
- Education and community activities aimed at developing and sharing social, intellectual and physical skills;
- Raising awareness of the physical and psychological abuse seniors can be victim of;
- Intergenerational activities, such as mentoring young people.
