Strathmore hosts Alberta Seniors Service Provider Workshop

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Strathmore’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) hosted the Alberta Seniors Service Provider Workshop, after a volunteer income tax program revealed a large portion of the town’s aging population wasn’t accessing eligible provincial and federal benefits.
Results showed seniors, which account for 33 per cent of Strathmore population, weren’t applying for provincial benefits, especially when receiving federal assistance.
As a result, citizen services specialist for the Government of Canada, Jim Evans, and stakeholder engagement adviser, Tamara Walker, spoke at the workshop to facilitators and those directly working with seniors from across Alberta, to educate them on programs available to seniors.
“I think it’s a worthwhile thing to bring us out into the community,” said Evans. “Most of the information is online on the canada.ca website, so if a person is able to navigate the website they can find the information. (Having access to the information) lets seniors be able to ask questions in their local community without having to go to a Canada service site that may not be located close by.”
Evans covered topics of Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Canada Pension Plan. In comparison, Walker provided information on the provincial programs that include Alberta Seniors Benefit, Special Needs Assistance for Seniors, Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors, and the Property Tax Deferral Program.
The information on May 23, provided local service facilitators with knowledge to share with seniors in Strathmore.
“We just found that there were a lot of seniors that had qualified for the services but were just not accessing them, and most of them were receiving the federal ones but I don’t think they realized that if they’re receiving the federal they can also qualify for the provincial,” said Dahrlyne Knaus, FCSS programmer.
“It’s very rewarding when you can go and help a senior and let them know that they qualify for these benefits because it enhances their lives by so much. Some of them qualify for housekeeping, they don’t know that they qualify so they’re getting housekeeping and they’re paying for it. So to be able to give them that service free of charge is wonderful.”
While facilitators have attended similar workshops in the past, Strathmore hosted the event for the first time. FCSS is planning on hosting another information session in the fall for seniors to attend.
Strathmore’s Senior Advisory Committee is also conducting a survey regarding senior events and resources within the community. The survey can be picked up at the town office, Strathmore Municipal Library or the Strathmore FCSS office on Third Avenue. An online application can also be made at www.surveymonkey.com/r/strathmoreseniors.