Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **Resources: Social Issues:

fACT Sheet — Supporting Seniors During COVID-19

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Introduction

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, information related to the science behind the virus, how it spread, and what measures were necessary to prevent infection emerged and evolved. It soon became clear that COVID-19 posed the biggest risk for those with underlying health conditions and people over the age of 70. It was soon apparent that providing supports for seniors in Edmonton while navigating this pandemic was a pressing concern.

As a result, the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC), the City of Edmonton, and SAGE Seniors Association set up a Coordinated Pandemic Response (CPR) Model to address seniors’ needs and respond in a quick and agile manner as the situation evolved.

For this fACT Sheet, we will summarize the major initiatives of the CPR model throughout 2020.

Coordinated Pandemic Response (CPR) Model

The CPR model is centred around the senior. The guiding priorities established during its development aimed to ensure that Edmonton seniors were not isolated, that they had their basic needs met, had access to health care, and were able to access information and resources to keep themselves safe.

The agencies identified a number of deliverables to complement these priorities. These included identifying existing services and resources that must be created or expanded to respond to the pandemic, supporting the development and expansion of services required, creating referral pathways within and between services, and creating tools and protocols to triage needs and distribution of resources.

To coordinate the initiatives and programs designed to respond to the pandemic, three task groups were formed to focus on critical services: Food/Transportation, Outreach/Friendly Check Ins, and Psychosocial Programming. Each group consisted of a lead seniors serving agency, an ESCC representative, a provincial or municipal government representative, and topic experts.

Government Funding to Support Seniors During the Pandemic

An influx of additional funding from the provincial and federal governments helped meet the needs of seniors during this unprecedented time. Seniors serving organizations within Edmonton received over $1.8 million in funding for enhanced or expanded services between March and November 2020. The funding addressed initiatives focused on food security and transportation ($645,778), social and emotional supports ($418,690), and navigation and outreach ($795,141). These emergency funds were generally accessed independently by each organization.

Transportation

Drive Happiness, a non-profit organization that provides seniors with access to transportation, was invaluable in providing supports to seniors during the pandemic. As of November 2020, they had delivered 7,740 rides—of which nearly one third (2,536) were used for pick ups and deliveries, running errands for seniors who were unable or uncomfortable leaving their homes, as well as the delivery of food hampers. The organization also provided 371 rides for essential/frontline workers from Edmonton and Beaumont who could not safely get to work due to public transit restrictions.

Information and Referrals

In the age of the internet, social media, and a rapid news cycle, access to quality and timely information is important—especially for vulnerable populations who may have difficulty navigating complex systems. The Seniors Information Phone Line (accessible by dialing 211) had contact with 4,501 seniors, or those supporting seniors, between March and September 2020. Of those calls, 1,200 were specifically related to COVID-19. This represents a 61% increase in contact compared to 2019 data for the same time period.

The majority of these calls were related to inquiries for outreach referrals, help with taxes, and support to access financial assistance. The most common unmet needs reported included medical equipment/supplies, tax preparation, and residential housing options. Seniors outreach programs that received the most referrals were SAGE Seniors Association, Edmonton Seniors Centre, Westend Seniors Activity Centre, SCONA, and North Edmonton Seniors Association.

Notably, pressing issues changed and evolved as the situation developed. At the start of the pandemic, requests for emergency food were at a high, and by May there was an increase in calls focused on public awareness and education. On top of that, between March and May 2020, the most common concerns were related to tax preparation, which coincided with tax season and the initial postponement or cancellation of community tax clinics.

Distribution of Masks and Hygiene Packages

Public health measures to slow the spread of the virus included physical distancing, proper hygiene such as handwashing or hand sanitization, and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks. In order to keep seniors and others safe, the distribution of masks and sanitization products was an important component of the pandemic response.

The CPR model collected and distributed activity, hygiene, and PPE packages to those in need. Between March and September 2020, 550 activity packages, 400 hygiene packages, and 700 PPE kits were distributed. Close to 1,000 seniors received these kits. In addition, Edmonton Meals on Wheels distributed 700 hygiene kits as part of an early response to the pandemic. Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council also received 90,000 masks from the province which were distributed to seniors serving organizations and centres.

These kits were used by seniors who had not otherwise been connected to resources, and helped build relationships and trust within the community.

Successes of the CPR Model

While there were a number of challenges faced by seniors and seniors serving organizations, the CPR model was considered a success in that it facilitated increased collaboration and partnership between groups, and increased engagement with seniors (both in reach and scope) after program delivery shifted to a virtual platform. These initiatives helped to reduce senior isolation, helped agencies feel more connected to other agencies, and helped seniors better understand the existing resources and services available to them as circumstances changed.

Challenges of the CPR Model

Developing and coordinating a pandemic response for a situation that was rapidly changing was not without its challenges. These included a lack of resources and funding from some organizations to contribute to the coordinated efforts, the need for clarification of the model and its purpose, virtual meeting burnout, and the need to simultaneously incorporate and apply equity and anti-oppressive frameworks into ongoing work.

As the pandemic continued throughout the summer and fall of 2020, there were ongoing concerns of increased social isolation, elder abuse, worsened mental health, and continued challenges in meeting basic needs. Seniors living in intergenerational households were at increased risk of contracting the virus and caregiver burnout and staff shortages were also identified as contributing to, and exacerbating, these risk factors.

Final Reflections

The ability for seniors serving organizations to adapt, be flexible, innovate, and work creatively together as a result of the CPR model is a commendable effort and a testament to the resilience of community organizations when faced with unprecedented challenges.

With the approval of a number of vaccines against COVID-19 and their rollout across Canada, a post-pandemic future is on the horizon. Senior populations have been among the first to be vaccinated—transmission of the virus among this demographic has slowed and the situation is greatly improving for many.

While the CPR model was designed to address an emergency situation, the hope is that the work undertaken and lessons learned will encourage strengthened coordination and collaboration among social agencies and all orders of government.

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April 9, 2021
Vital Topic — COVID-19 in Edmonton

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Edmonton Vital Signs is an annual checkup conducted by Edmonton Community Foundation, in partnership with Edmonton Social Planning Council, to measure how the community is doing. Vital Topics ar a quick but comprehensive look at issues that are timely and important to Edmonton.

For this edition, we take a look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes information and data related to food security, the economy, race and ethnicity, mental health, domestic violence, quality of life, and others.

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March 1, 2021
fACT Sheet — 2021 Alberta Provincial Budget

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Introduction

The 2021–22 Budget, titled Protecting Lives and Livelihoods, covers the time period April 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022. This is the third budget of the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) as they enter the halfway point of their term. It is also the first budget that addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, which has upended the lives and livelihoods of Albertans as a result of the economic fallout and health impacts related to the virus.

The focus of the budget is supporting Albertans to get through the pandemic and working towards a long-term economic recovery. Targets include investments in health care, infrastructure, and economic diversification.

That said, Budget 2021 still advertises low taxation as an advantage and announces no new tax increases. If Alberta had the same tax structure as the next lowest taxed provinces (Ontario and Saskatchewan), we would generate an additional $13.3 billion in revenue (2021–22).* Under-spending as a result of less revenue collected means fewer investments in public services that support Albertans.

This fACT Sheet will focus on developments related to social programs that impact those living in low-income and poverty.

Revenue Measures

The previous budget, released in February 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic reached Alberta, projected $50 billion in revenue for 2020–21. However, revenue has now been projected to $42.3 billion—$7.7 billion lower than the previous estimate. This is due to a decrease in income and other taxes as well as a drop in non-renewable resource revenue. This is related to the significant economic impacts of COVID-19 and the collapse in oil demand, prices, and production. Cuts to the corporate tax rate, which decreased from 10% in January 2020 to 8% in July 2020 (a year-and-a-half sooner than originally planned) is also a factor. Notably, federal transfers from the Government of Canada are up as a source of revenue while almost all other sources are down.

Due to these conditions and the fact that no new taxes will be introduced with Budget 2021, there will be a projected $18.2 billion deficit.

Alberta Seniors Benefit

The Alberta Seniors Benefit provides low-income Albertans aged 65 years or older financial assistance to help with monthly living expenses. Previously, there were plans to adjust benefit phase-out rates and eligibility thresholds for new applicants. This plan has been paused in order to maintain the same level of support for seniors through the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the maximum monthly benefit for a single adult is $285.92 and $428.83 for a couple.

Child Benefits

In the 2020–21 budget, the Alberta Child Benefit and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit were replaced by the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, which took effect in July 2020.
Though not in the budget document itself, shortly before its release the province announced a Working Parents Benefit. Starting March 1, parents can apply for a one-time payment of $561 per child to help with child care while they continue to work.

Child Care

Funding for Children’s Services is expected to remain flat over the next four years, with an operating expense of $1.7 billion in 2021–22. The child care sector has faced many challenges due to COVID-19 with closure of facilities in March 2020, then their subsequent re-opening with new public health measures to protect staff and children. As a result, funding (including some federal supports) has been reallocated to facilitate the safe re-opening of these centres. This includes $23 million in a Critical Worker Benefit for child intervention and child care programming, as well as $28 million to assist child care centres in their re-opening efforts.

The final phase of the Early Learning and Child Care pilot (also known as the $25 a day child care program) will end on March 31, 2021. Rather than continuing the program or making it universal, child care subsidies have been revamped so that low-income families will receive higher subsidies as part of a new funding deal between the province and the federal government.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness

The Government of Alberta recently released the Affordable Housing Review Panel’s report, which seeks to transform the affordable housing system. The Seniors and Housing ministry is currently developing a strategic plan and redesign of the affordable housing system. The reforms will ensure its financial sustainability and capacity to respond to growing demand. There will be no large budget changes until this redesign is completed.

However, there is still money for existing affordable housing initiatives. The government is dedicated to building 1,800 units to house individuals, families, and seniors in need of social supports and housing and to maintain units that already exist. As a result of recommendations from the review, Budget 2021 will provide a $16 million reinstatement to the Rental Assistance Program. Rental supports are critical for struggling Albertans to pay their rents.

The Government of Alberta stated they will continue to provide over $193 million for Homeless Support and Outreach Services. However, this is slightly down from the $197 million spent in the 2019–20 fiscal year. Nevertheless, they have included funding for 500 shelter spaces in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Addictions and Mental Health

The budget has committed $140 million over four years to increase access to services, expand programs, and establish new publicly funded mental health and addictions treatment spaces to support 4,000 Albertans towards a path to recovery. In addition, the government announced $25 million to support construction of five therapeutic communities across Alberta as part of an integrated system that encompasses clients of the health care system, justice system, and community social services system.

Existing supervised consumption sites across the province will receive $15.7 million in funding, a reduction of $2 million from last year due to the closure of the Lethbridge site. There is no new funding for harm reduction services, instead focusing on recovery-based services.

Employment and Income Support

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) and Income Support programs, have seen lower caseloads over the past year. Many people accessing these supports had transitioned to the Canada Emegency Response Benefit (CERB), likely because the larger payments allowed them to better meet their needs. The government will continue to fund these income support programs and serve vulnerable Albertans, although there will be no funding increases.

The government introduced benefits specially for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Critical Worker Benefit provides a one-time payment of $1,200 to individuals working on the front lines during the pandemic. People who work in health care, social services, education, and private sectors are eligible; $465 million has been dedicated for this benefit.

The Government of Alberta is dedicated to getting people back to work. As part of its Recovery Plan, it has instituted a Labour and Talent Strategy to increase learning opportunities, expand the apprenticeship model, and enhance connections between school and industries so that young Albertans will have better job prospects. The province is also dedicating $1.5 billion over four years to key economic sectors, assuming that they will build and diversify Alberta’s economy and create new jobs.

Drugs and Supplemental Health Benefits

As with the previous budget, there are changes to drug programs (which include transitioning patients from higher cost biologic medications to generic versions as well as the Seniors Drug Program no longer covering spouses and dependents younger than 65 years of age). However, plans to introduce income tested deductibles were deferred and are not reflected in the new budget.

In addition, there are funding increases to the Outpatient Cancer Therapy and Specialized High Cost Drug programs to address drug cost increases and higher patient volumes. The operating expense budget for these programs has grown to over $1.9 billion per year.

Family and Community Support Services

Funding for Family and Community Support Services is being maintained at $100 million. To address pressing social challenges—particularly against the backdrop of COVID-19—the Community and Social Services ministry is providing $7 million for the Civil Society Empowerment Fund to help non-profit organizations and charities address social problems for Albertans. In addition, $13 million will be provided for sexual assault services and over $5 million will be provided for Family Violence Prevention programs.

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February 26, 2021
Feature Report — Confronting Racism with Data: Why Canada Needs Disaggregated Race-Based Data

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History has shown that race-based data can be used to uphold racist systems and discriminatory practices; but data can also help to dismantle them. Currently, race-based data is collected in only a few key systems, and data collection strategies are woefully inadequate for current needs (in areas such as health, justice, and education). The limited data that is available does not provide adequate evidence to support targeted policy change and intervention. Race-based data is crucial to develop effective anti-racism frameworks, and to understand the diverse, intersectional, needs of racialized communities in Canada. This report highlights some of the issues, and addresses how systems can improve, or implement, data collection strategies that result in reliable, high-quality, and comparable data—based firmly on national-level standards.

Authors:

Jenn Rossiter, Research Services and Capacity Building Coordinator

Tom Ndekezi, volunteer and ESPC Canada Summer Jobs student (2020)

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February 24, 2021
Blog: Responding to Edmonton Seniors’ Needs During a Pandemic

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When the first known case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Canada a little over a year ago, not a lot was known about the virus. By the time a global pandemic was declared in March 2020, trends were becoming clearer. The health impact was greatest on those with pre-existing conditions and people over the age of 70. With this in mind, responding to the needs and concerns of Edmonton’s seniors during a pandemic was of paramount importance.

The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council, the City of Edmonton, and SAGE Seniors Association set up a Coordinated Pandemic Response (CPR) Model to address seniors’ needs and ensure they were not isolated, that their basic needs were being met, and that they had access to health care, information, and resources to keep themselves safe. The focus was on critical services which included food and transportation, outreach, and psychosocial programming.

Recently, the CPR Steering committee released a summary report reflecting on its work from the start of the pandemic in mid-March 2020 up until mid-November 2020. The report captures a moment in time and lists various initiatives undertaken by a number of seniors serving organizations in order to keep their clients safe and supported. During this eight-month period, seniors serving organizations in Edmonton received about $1.8 million in emergency funding from the federal and provincial governments to enhance or expand their services, which was instrumental in meeting the needs of seniors. The funding was used by agencies to provide supports such as the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), tax preparation, emergency food hampers, and essential goods delivery/pick-up.

Although there were a number of successes in meeting the needs of seniors, there were a number of challenges identified. These challenges included virtual meeting burnout, a lack of resources and funding to contribute to the coordinated efforts, the need for clarification on the model and its purpose, and on top of that, the need to simultaneously incorporate and apply equity and anti-oppressive frameworks into ongoing work. In addition, the pandemic has impacted many seniors who reported increased social isolation, elder abuse, worsened mental health, and continued challenges in meeting their basic needs. Seniors living in intergenerational households were at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Furthermore, caregiver burnout and staff shortages were also identified as contributing to, and exasperating, these risk factors.

Despite the many challenges faced by seniors and seniors serving organizations, these pandemic responses have facilitated increased collaboration and partnerships between groups, and have increased engagement with seniors (through reach and scope) since shifting to virtual program delivery.

Looking back at all of these efforts, it is commendable to see organizations’ ability to adapt, innovate, and creatively work together to respond to the changing needs of seniors during a particularly difficult period. Although this response was designed to meet the needs of seniors during a time of emergency, there will no doubt be lessons learned that can be adapted and implemented in the long-term when we plan for a post-pandemic future. These adaptations will allow us the opportunity to redouble our efforts to ensure that seniors are no longer left behind.

Reference: “Coordinated Pandemic Response for Edmonton Senior Serving Community: Summary Report of Model Reflections to Nov. 2020” https://seniorscouncil.net/uploads/files/Edmonton-Senior-Serving-Pandemic-Response-Report-FINAL.pdf
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February 19, 2021
Research Update: Colouring Outside the Lines

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Note: this is excerpted from the December 2020 edition of our “Research Update” publication. The Edmonton Social Planning Council, in collaboration with our volunteers, strives to provide stakeholders and community members with up-to-date reviews, prepared by our volunteers, on recently published social research reports and publications.

Reviewed by Jayme Wong

Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change (COP–COC) is an Ontario-based network of groups that collaborate to create community-based resources and tools that address and combat ethno-racial inequality and oppression. In January 2019, COP–COC submitted Proposed Framework for a New-Anti-Racism Strategy for Canada during a national consultation on a new Canadian Anti-Racism Strategy, informed by a community consultation that same month.

The proposal provides a framework for a new Anti-Racism Strategy through manageable and attainable calls to action. Among the key principles and themes that highlight the need for an intersectional approach to policy-making, the proposal also includes 12 calls to action urging the federal government to make timely and specific changes to the New Anti-Racism Strategy. These actions address (p. 3):

(1) racial inequalities in the labour market

(2) the racialization of poverty

(3) systemic racism in the criminal justice system and access to justice

(4) racial discrimination in violence against women

(5) racial discrimination in national security

(6) systemic racism in child welfare

(7) health inequities

(8) inequities in accessing to basic necessities

(9) inequities in access to education

(10) systemic racism in immigration legislation and policy

(11) systemic racism in citizenship legislation and policy

(12) combating hate crimes

The strategy takes an intersectional approach to anti-racism advocacy, suggesting that women, LGBTQ+ and two-spirited peoples, and people with disabilities face disproportionate institutional discrimination and oppression. The proposal acknowledges the historical and ongoing racism that affects Indigenous communities and communities of colour, prompting the need for a new Anti-Racism Strategy. Although many of the calls to action are directed towards the federal government, the proposal notes that “systemic racism and racial discrimination know no jurisdictional bounds” (p. 3). COP–COC highlights the importance for all levels of government—from federal to municipal—to work together to enforce and enact the new Anti-Racism Strategy.

One recurring ask within the proposal urges the federal government to “require all Departments, Ministries, Divisions and other relevant institutions to collect and track disaggregated data with respect to ethno-racial background, and use this data to develop strategies for addressing systemic racism” (p. 4). Disaggregated data would show a trend in who is more likely to rely on government social services due to disproportionate rates of impoverishment and food insecurity, and who is also more likely to be discriminated against by pre-existing legal practices and their often biased practitioners. The publication of the collected data would act as an accountability and transparency measure by the institutions that had previously been gate-keepers to such information and excluded people of colour from the process.

An important factor mentioned at the beginning of the proposal is that Indigenous communities and communities of colour can and should be able to choose their own approaches to the Anti-Racism Strategy. While this acknowledgement is only mentioned very briefly, it is important that the group has taken the time to acknowledge sovereignty and autonomy within communities of colour, and especially for Indigenous communities who have not had their rights respected by colonial institutions. The acknowledgement allows opportunities for negotiation and additions from Indigenous communities and communities of colour who wish to join in the process.

There are a few calls to action which seem rather brief—one of which is the call to address inequities in access to education. The proposal only mentions funding more post-secondary scholarship programs for racialized and marginalized communities, and allowing Indigenous communities to regain control over their educational practices. There is no mention that people of colour face multiple barriers—not simply financial—when accessing education. Just a few of the unmentioned barriers may include language, gender, or culture. Furthermore, “[transferring] educational matters from pre-school to post-secondary education to local Indigenous authorities” (p. 11) does not fully address the traumatic experiences that Indigenous students have faced and continue to face in the colonial education system.

Overall, the proposal is quite effective in painting a picture of what the future could be if an intersectional lens was used in all policy-making. The two most convincing tenets of this proposal are (1) the involvement of all racialized and marginalized in policy-making decisions, and (2) urging public institutions to be more transparent about their practices. Canada still has a long way to go with its Anti-Racism Strategy, but if even one call to action within COP–COC’s proposed framework is achieved, the country would be that much closer to eradicating racism.

Publication Source:

Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change. (2019). Proposed framework for a new anti-racism strategy for Canada. https://ocasi.org/sites/default/files/PROPOSED_COP-COC_FRAMEWORK_for_Anti-Racism_Strategy_Jan_2019_0.pdf

ABOUT THE RESEARCH REVIEWER:

Jayme Wong graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2014 with a BA in English and Philosophy, and more recently graduated from the University of Alberta in 2020 with an MA in English and Film Studies. She currently works at a local non-profit, The Learning Centre Literacy Association.

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December 18, 2020