Our Impact
Removing barriers that prevent older persons from leading healthy and dignified lives
HelpAge Canada partners with community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations across Canada and abroad to improve the quality of life of older persons in their communities. The growing network of frontline organizations have increasing needs for funding and support to better respond to those facing challenges as they age. HelpAge Canada uses its reach to better support organizations providing critical services to older people.
In rental revenue contributing to the financial security of older homeowners through Canada HomeShare
Over 8,500 aging Canadians provided with greater access to social, well-being support
Organizations have mapped the gaps in transportation for older Canadians
$3.8M
Over $3.8 million committed to humanitarian projects that safeguard the health and safety of older people in over a dozen countries
Older Canadians provided with digital access and tech support
Providing access to age-friendly transportation, social programming, technology, and mobility devices so that older people can stay connected and fully participate in the world around them.
Find out more on how HelpAge Canada supports older people’s health and wellness – learn about our Age Better program.
Anyone can become socially isolated when challenges exceed personal resources and available support from friends, family, and government. Supporting the health and wellness of older adults means leaving no one behind.
We know that financial instability is directly connected to poorer health outcomes, and low well-being is one of the primary contributors to isolation and loneliness. We enhance the quality of life of older people by increasing access to mobility and communication equipment, social programming, and essential medical care.
We’re breaking down barriers so that older people from coast to coast to coast feel uplifted in their communities:
- Over $742,000 disbursed to local community organizations
- More than 8,500 underserved older Canadians directly benefiting from support
- $63,000 directed to men’s initiatives countering isolation, loneliness, and depression
“Government funding [sometimes] covers the basics of a wheelchair, [depending which province you are in and the supplies available], but not things like an elevating device, and I do not have the resources to cover these costs. The fact that the chair elevates has made my life easier in so many ways. Cooking has always been a problem – although I can get my wheelchair under my stove top, I can’t see what’s in the pot and the burners are just above neck level. This chair means I am higher and therefore safer.
The most important improvement is being eye level with other people. To have conversations with people at eye level or be at a crowded event and see what the crowd is seeing is a huge boost to how I feel about myself. These may seem like small changes, but they have enhanced my independence and self‐esteem, so to me, they are invaluable.”
Nancy Kelly, Ottawa, ON
HelpAge Canada works closely with partners around the world to provide programs like Sponsor A Grandparent and Global Response that provide support for the basic human needs of older adults and respond to urgent crisis and humanitarian needs of the aging populations in regions facing violence, displacement, and natural disasters.
Click here for more on HelpAge Canada’s
global initiatives
HelpAge Canada intervenes where the need for humanitarian support is most urgent, currently supporting programs in Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Pakistan.
- 84,000 older Ethiopian refugees received nutritional and healthcare support with $1.2 million raised for a large-scale relief effort for 2021-22
- Close to $5 million in humanitarian relief reached 7,700 older Ukrainians and their families fleeing war zones in 2021-22
Our Impact in Eastern Ukraine
Anastasia Egorovna,
Luhansk
Anastasia Egorovna lived in the Luhansk region of Ukraine and worked in a factory for most of her life. After the deaths of her husband and older son, Anastasia’s health took a turn for the worse and she suffered a stroke, leaving her bedridden. Today, she lives with her younger son and they live off her pension.
HelpAge connected Anastasia with a support group of volunteers who visit her regularly. In addition to relief supplies she received, Anastasia takes great comfort in the company and support from the community who make her feel less alone.
our Impact in Ethiopia
Shigute, 73,
Meki, Ethiopia
“The doctor and the nurses in the clinic tested my eyes with their machines and gave me glasses. I was so happy to learn my problem could be fixed with simple glasses. When I put them on, I can see everything that is close to me. I can return to my daily farming routine with new and full energy,”
our Impact in Pakistan
Shah Murad, 72,
Mirpur, Pakistan
“We’ve faced a lot of problems. Our house was swept away by this flood, it’s all now completely flattened. After the flood, we had a fever and skin conditions, and we couldn’t get any medicine, but now doctors have visited us and we are getting medicine for free. HelpAge gave me a comforter, a pillow, and two containers for clean water.”
Click here for more on HelpAge Canada’s
global initiatives
Sponsor A Grandparent supports health and well-being for older adults in Haiti, Dominica, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, and Jamaica.
- Over $3M raised to sponsor grandparents abroad since program inception
- 15 partner organizations in Dominica, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Kenya, and Sri Lanka
In 2021-2022 alone….
- 409 individuals supporting this program
- 387 individuals sponsoring Grandparents
- $245,599 donations from individuals
“The destruction of the main residence caused by the August 14, 2021 earthquake is our biggest challenge. Residents of our care home have been moved to a temporary facility, but thanks to your support, we are able to provide special comforts and meet the needs of our grans.”
REV. P. ALFRED CHARPENTIE OMI, Foyer St. Etienne, Les Cayes, Haiti
Donations
90% of all donations to HelpAge Canada go directly to our programming at home and globally, with 6.7% towards administration costs, and 2% towards fundraising costs. Your contributions are crucial to provide the support, funding, leadership, and research to achieve healthy aging for all.
Join us in changing the lives of older people and their communities
Support Us
We appreciate the support of our generous donors in helping us create a world in which all older persons lead secure, healthy, active and dignified lived.