[Release] Helping seniors age in their communities in Alberta

The Seniors Lodge Program is Alberta’s oldest affordable housing program for seniors and is especially important in rural communities. To improve the lodge system’s efficiency and sustainability into the future, Alberta’s government is launching a seniors lodge review panel. This review will look to make the most of existing spaces and help ensure seniors can age in their community. 

The Seniors Lodge Program supports 10,850 lodge units in 149 lodges across Alberta. The program provides services to residents, including meals, laundry, housekeeping and recreational programming. The review will provide an opportunity to smooth transitions between lodges and continuing care homes to ensure the needs of seniors will be met when they need to access more care.

The government-led panel will be co-chaired by MLA for Leduc-Beaumont Brandon Lunty and president of the Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA) Arlene Adamson and is made up of municipal representatives, social housing and seniors organizations. The panel will begin its work in early 2024.

Panel members appointed by Minister Nixon are:

• Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, co-chair
• Arlene Adamson, president, Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA), co-chair
• Stacey Stilling, chief administrative officer, Mountain View Seniors Housing
• Lauren Ingalls, chief administrative officer, Westwinds Communities
• Marlys Jordan, chief administrative officer, Calgary Heritage Housing
• Paul McLauchlin, president, Rural Municipalities Alberta
• Tyler Gandam, president, Alberta Municipalities
• Robin James, vice-president south region, ASCHA
• Shane Gauthier, chief executive officer, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
• Jennifer McCue, chief administrative officer, Bethany Care Society
• Mariam Elghahuagi, manager of Healthy Aging Alberta, United Way of Calgary and Area

Full release available here