Our Seniors population is among the fastest growing segment of Nova Scotians. After you have spent your life working and contributing to our province and country, you deserve to live in dignity and comfort without fear of housing insecurity or access to world class healthcare.

The following commitments are the first components of my vision for Seniors.

Supporting Long Term Care

As Premier, I am committed to building enough modern long-term care beds to remove seniors from the waitlist within our hospitals and provide every Senior in need with proper living accommodations. Seniors deserve dignity and should not live in fear towards what conditions their living accommodations are in. I will also work with Seniors to ensure that long-term care accommodations have enough staff who are fully trained.

This will also free up essential hospital beds for Nova Scotians and provide additional access to operations and take “hallway medicine” out of the equation. No Nova Scotian should be waiting in hospital hallways for care.

Access to Hospice Care Across the Province

I am committed to working with local stakeholders and community leaders to offer increased access to hospice care across the province.  We have seen an increase in the demand and desire for this service within our local communities. These facilities must be available across the Province, as Seniors deserve to live close to home and in the best comfort we can provide.

From the South Shore to Cumberland, Glace Bay to Yarmouth, we need adequate hospice care.

Investments in Seniors Health And Safety

We know that the health and well-being of our Seniors needs to be a priority, not just for Seniors but for loved ones who take care of family members should the need arise. As Premier I am committed to the following;

A high dose flu vaccine for all Seniors who want it (Health officials recommend an increased dosage of the flu vaccine for this specific age group).

Work with the Federal government to implement a national pharmacare program urgently.

Support the implementation of SHIFT (Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for an Aging Population)

Protect vulnerable Seniors from fraud and fraudulent activity.

Continue and increase funding so Seniors can continue to live in their own homes.

Housing Strategy

In my previously released housing strategy, I addressed the issues of supply and demand. Seniors and others must have access to the right housing in their own communities. I’m committed to building purpose-built seniors housing in regions across the Province. I will also work to expand co-operative housing and work to increase development through a housing committee that includes a Seniors advocate. More information can be found in my housing strategy.