If seniors have knowledge of health care, they can get homecare and other services. Seniors should get together and lobby for medical care. The civic governments and the provincial government need to get more involved in the issues of seniors. Subsequently, six working groups for health, housing, global issues, transportation, communications, and income formed to focus on the recommendations made at the summit. All of these concerns are interelated and affected by social and financial policies.
Pensions are the major component of income security for retirees.
However, not everyone is eligible even though, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we are equal under law. Immigrants are not entitled to Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan benefits, nor the provincial Seniors Supplement except under certain conditions. If their sponsorship arrangement breaks down, and they are over 60, they have no income security of any kind. They do not qualify for a bus pass which restricts their mobility. This is isolating and leads to psychological and physical health problems, not to mention vulnerability to abuse.