Some of our members and friends who met you felt that you are a true community person and in this spirit of community, we ask that you provide assistance in helping us remain in our own homes within our communities. In a recent communication with all MLAs, SUN presented a proposal outlining ways that the government could help, including low interest home loans recovered by the provincial government when seniors sell so our home equity is secure. We ask that you consider this proposal. With respect to housing, we ask that you either reconsider capping rent increases or insure that more affordable housing or rental subsidies are available.

We also ask that you consider increasing the eligibility threshold for the Alberta Seniors Benefit. The threshold for a single senior is $22,200 and for a couple is $35,900, figures which are highly outdated. As seniors, we have unique needs and we ask that your government recognize and support us. As we age, our requirements for dental care, eyeglasses and hearing aids increase. Physiotherapy time limits need reconsideration. Funding for these needs to increase.

We are appreciative of the Blue Cross coverage that we receive but we would appreciate your government investigating which drugs are and are not covered because we have found that many of the essential drugs for seniors are not covered and are often very costly.

Finally, as the day will come when some of us will go to care facilities, we ask that your government make them safe and caring places where we are treated with dignity and respect. As our funds may be low by the time we reach this stage in our lives, we ask that your consider having the charges reviewed, lowered, or even removed.

We are extremely pleased to hear that you will be talking with the Seniors’ Action Liaison Team (SALT) to look at the Independent Seniors Advocate program. We believe such a program will be helpful to the government in identifying where problems exist.

We would be happy to speak with you further about our suggestions, and in anticipation of your support, we thank you. We wish you the best in your new term.

Sincerely,

Liz Allchin

Vice-President Alberta Seniors United Now

For more information please contact:

Liz Allchin, SUN Vice-President

449-1816 SUN - Office

unitenow@telus.net

Alberta Seniors United Now or SUN as we are more commonly referred to is a non-profit, non-partisan, province wide organization. Our vision is to be a leading resource and advocate on seniors’ issues.

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