Report of the National Seniors Council on Volunteering Among Seniors and Positive and Active Aging

Annex A: Summary of Suggestions for Action

The Council offers the following suggestions for the consideration of the Government of Canada.

Positive and Active Aging

Perceptions of Aging and Seniors

  • Develop and implement a national campaign to address ageism and promote positive images of aging.
  • Develop and demonstrate an “Ageism-Free” community tool to identify and address ageism.

Key Characteristics Promoting Positive and Active Aging

  • Develop and hold a national conference on healthy living for seniors.
  • Implement a seniors’ fitness tax credit that allows seniors to claim a certain amount of money per year for eligible fitness expenses.
  • Continue to fund the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
  • Develop and implement tools and resources to identify health risks facing senior caregivers to promote their health and well-being.
  • Develop and implement a Seniors Independence Program covering a similar range of services that are available through the Government of Canada’s Veterans Independence Program.
  • Federal/Provincial/Territorial collaboration on health care.
  • Continue to invest in research on older drivers.
  • Build on existing efforts to increase knowledge and awareness of existing federal services, benefits and programs available to seniors.

Designing Communities to Promote Positive and Active Aging

  • Build on current government initiatives to improve community design considerations for seniors.

Research on Positive and Active Aging

  • Continue to invest in research on positive and active aging.

Volunteering Among Seniors

Recruitment of Volunteers

  • Support and promote initiatives that encourage baby boomer volunteering.
  • Develop and implement a national social marketing campaign to promote volunteerism.

Support for Seniors Who Volunteer

  • Implement a tax credit for volunteers that allows for a certain amount of money per year to be claimed for eligible volunteer expenses.
  • Create a prime ministerial award that recognizes the contributions of Canada’s senior volunteers.

Building Partnerships Among Key Social Players

  • Work with key private sector partners to promote volunteering among Canadians.

Research on Volunteering

  • Continue federal investments in research on volunteering.

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