As the cost of living soars in N.L., seniors' advocacy groups are sounding the alarm
CBC
The increasing cost of living in Newfoundland and Labrador is especially hurting seniors living on a fixed income, according to advocacy groups that support the province's aging population.
Gas prices keep reaching new record highs, home heating oil is also on the rise and grocery bills are getting more expensive.
Groups like Seniors N.L. and Connections for Seniors seniors are finding it increasingly difficult to afford their basic needs.
"People are looking for the basic needs in that they need food. A couple of years ago we weren't hearing from people who needed emergency food, we were more hearing from people looking for housing," Elizabeth Siegel, Seniors N.L.'s director of information and referral services, told CBC News on Friday.
"It's come down to the basics now. People need food."
Mohamed Abdallah, executive director of Connections for Seniors, says his organization is seeing the same thing.
As the prices of daily needs fluctuate, he said, seniors are choosing among rent, groceries, medication and transportation.
"We see them make decisions with their housing stability, sometimes making decisions that can compromise their health and sometimes they make decisions that can compromise one of those main factors of their essentials in order to survive," he said.
"We are seeing a lot of seniors that have to make those tough decisions and compromise their well-being."
Abdallah said the situation is having an impact on both mental and physical health and since 2020 the demand for services has doubled, especially in the food security program — and is still increasing.
Siegel said change needs to come from every level of government, particularly in the form of government funding at the federal and provincial levels.
"Housing has been an issue for many, many years, but definitely with COVID, with the recent inflation, things have picked up," she said.
"It affects us all. We're all going to be seniors some day."
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