Older adults have the same rights as anyone else and there are supports for older adults who need them.

Older adults are at risk of experiencing social isolation, as well as poor health and wellbeing. Knowing your rights can help.

What rights do I have as an older adult?

Older adults have the same rights as anyone else. This includes the right to:

decide how they want to live
accept or refuse support, help or protection
make their own personal and financial decisions
not be discriminated against based on their age
be informed about decisions affecting them and, to the best of their ability, take part in decision-making that affects them

Older adults, like others, can only make their own decisions if they have capacity to do so. That means they understand what they are doing and the possible consequences of a decision. As people age, they sometimes lose their capacity to make all their own decisions.

What happens if I can no longer make my own decisions?

When older adults are unable to care for themselves or make their own decisions, those decisions may be made by someone else. You have the right to plan for a time when you cannot make your own decisions and to say who you want to make those decisions for you if that time comes.

An Enduring Power of Attorney (POA) is a document that you can use to appoint someone to make financial and personal decisions for you when you cannot. You must do this while you still have capacity. A POA cannot make healthcare decisions.

A Healthcare Directive is a document that you can use to say what medical treatment you do and do not want when you are no longer able to make your own healthcare decisions or unable to communicate them. As well as listing treatments you want or do not want, you can appoint a Proxy to make healthcare decisions for you when you cannot. You can also just appoint a Proxy without listing any treatment you want or do not want.

If you do not have any of these documents in place and you lose the capacity to make your own decisions, someone would need to apply to court to be your Adult Guardian so they could make decisions for you. You can object to having a guardian if you think you do not need one. You can also ask the court to review the appointment of a guardian.

An Adult Guardian can have the authority to make financial as well as personal decisions for you. The court can decide what type of decisions a guardian can make. If no one applies to be your guardian and you need help, the Public Guardian and Trustee can become your property guardian to help manage your finances and property.

If you do not have a Healthcare Directive or a guardian, decisions about your healthcare would be made by your nearest relative such as your spouse, adult child, sibling or niece or nephew. If you do not have a nearest relative, those decisions would be made by a care provider or physician.

What supports are there for older adults?

You have the right to support as you age. There are income supports, home help and residences for older adults.

If you are 65 or over, you are eligible for the Old Age Security pension (OAS). It does not matter if you have ever worked or are still working. Your OAS pension may be supplemented with the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) if you have little or no other income. If you are receiving OAS and GIS, you may also be eligible for financial assistance from the provincial Seniors Income Plan (SIP). Your annual income must be below a certain level to receive SIP benefits.

You may also have a pension through the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). You and your employer pay into the plan during your working years. The amount of your pension depends on how much has been contributed.

There are also supports to help you stay in your home. Home care services can be accessed through the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). These services can include:

meal preparation
nursing
physiotherapy
personal care
home maintenance

Some of these services are provided without charge. There is a fee for some others, like meal preparation and home management, that is based on your income and how many services you are using.

Older adults who can no longer live safely at home can live in a Personal Care Home or a Special Care Home. Personal Care Homes are private businesses. The services provided and the cost of those services is based on an agreement between the older adult and the home. Special Care homes are part of the healthcare system. People are admitted based on need and the cost is based on their income.

When might it be different?

If you live on a reserve Indigenous Services Canada oversees the delivery of health-related programs such as home care and assisted living facilities. They do this in coordination with First Nations who deliver the services.

Learn More

For more information about the rights of older adults and available supports visit the Older Adults section of plea.org or order PLEA’s booklet Life After 60 or Power of Attorney or PLEA’s pamphlet Healthcare Directives, free of charge by visiting plea.org.

Get Help

Personal Care Homes
Has a Personal Care Home Registry that can be used to find a Personal Care Home and information about the Personal Care Home benefit to help with the cost. Also has information about inspections of Personal Care Homes and how to make a complaint.

Public Guardian and Trustee
Has information about becoming a guardian for an adult who cannot look after themselves and a self-help kit for people applying to be appointed as a guardian for an adult.
Phone: 306.787.5424
Email: pgt@gov.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Health Authority
Has contact information for Home Care services in different communities and information about Special Care Homes.

Seniors Income Plan
Is a monthly benefit or seniors who have little or no income other than Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Toll-free: 1.800.667.7161
Phone: 306.787.2681

Service Canada
Provides information and application forms for Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and Canada Pension Plan.
Toll-free:1.800.277.9914