In honour of National Seniors Day, let’s champion healthy aging, secure retirements and safe long-term care.
Oct. 1 of each year is National Seniors Day, which coincides with the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) and is an occasion for Canadians to celebrate the profound contributions of seniors in our homes, communities and workplaces.
The 2010 Speech from the Throne (SFT) announced that the Government would support legislation to create a National Seniors Day. The Celebrating Canada’s Seniors Act received Royal Assent on Nov. 18, 2010. Canada’s very first National Seniors Day was celebrated on Oct. 1, 2011.
For Federal Retirees, championing the health and well-being of older adults is not reserved for Oct. 1, but National Seniors Day is still a perfect opportunity to raise awareness and to join a global conversation about healthy aging. Keep your eye on our website and our social media feeds in the lead-up to National Seniors Day for informative articles and opportunities to get involved.
- Transform older adult care
- Caring for caregivers
- Aging with rights
- Network with reach 338
- Join the conversation
- Additional resources
Transform older adult care
One of the best ways to celebrate National Seniors Day and show our appreciation for older Canadians is to ensure that our cities and communities are good places to grow up and grow older. Now is the time to fix long-term and home care for good.
Transforming older adult care requires a different approach, with an emphasis on providing care at home and in the community so that Canadians can age in place. It means implementing and enforcing national standards for long-term care, home care and other older adult care, to ensure a baseline level of quality care for older Canadians, regardless of where they live.
Caring for caregivers
Did you know that about 1.5 million Canadians over age 65 provide care for a family member or friend suffering from a chronic illness, Alzheimer's, or dementia?
Caregivers require support and deserve training, peer mentoring, financial compensation and opportunities for respite. You can take action for Canadian caregivers and help address policy gaps that hinder their well-being by adding your voice to our campaign today.
I’d like to join Federal Retirees in calling for increased support for caregivers.
Aging with rights
Earlier this year, Federal Retirees had the chance to participate in the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on Aging. An energized, committed group of Canadian and international advocates are working on a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and we are proud to be part of it on your behalf.
A UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons would:
- Protect the human rights of older persons under international law.
- Encourage greater development of policies and programs benefiting older persons.
- Combat ageism.
I’d like to learn more about what a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons would mean.
Make a difference with Reach 338
An important aspect of advocating for good public policy is making sure that it is recognized by our representatives and prioritized by our government. Federal Retirees is building a nationwide network of advocates to advance our mission – to significantly improve the quality and security of retirement for our members and all Canadians. This network is named Reach 338 because our goal is to ensure that our advocacy work reaches all 338 federal ridings. To participate and help ensure Federal Retirees’ message is heard across the country, join the network!
I’d like to learn more about the Reach 338 network and how I can get involved.
Join the conversation
Social media is a great way to join the conversation about National Seniors Day and the contributions of older adults in our lives. We’ve crafted social media resources you can share among your networks to get the word out.
Sample posts
- October 1 is National Seniors Day! Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the contributions of older Canadians.
- On National Seniors Day and every day, dignity in aging matters.
- In honour of National Seniors Day, let’s speak up to improve older adult care in Canada.
Use the hashtags #SeniorsDay, #NationalSeniorsDay or #UNIDOP to join the conversation.
Additional resources
Visit the Government of Canada seniors’ hub at canada.ca/seniors for a wealth of resources, programs and information for seniors including the popular Benefits Finder tool.
The United Nations website offers background information and resources regarding the International Day of Older Persons and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.