EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill proclaims the week beginning on the first Monday in November in each year as Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week.

Bill 137 2023

An Act to proclaim Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week

Preamble

Senior citizens are a diverse, vibrant and treasured community.  They have contributed immensely to the culture and development of Ontario and deserve to live out their “silver years” comfortably, in an environment that works best for their needs and interests.

There are a variety of potential options that can enable seniors to live in their homes and communities as long as they wish.  Determining the most suitable environment often requires early conversations with family, friends and caregivers.  It also requires advance planning to ensure seniors are psychologically, physically and financially prepared for their future.

In many cases, Ontarians are not having the necessary conversations early enough, and the subject becomes more difficult to raise as seniors get older.  Regrettably, these conversations are at times only triggered after seniors are admitted to a hospital and are preparing for discharge, realizing they cannot simply go back to their previous living environment.  A lack of preparation can contribute to issues including heightened stress and other mental health issues for seniors and their families.

Preparing for the future helps empower seniors and their families, enabling them to stay engaged in their communities with a multitude of options available to them. 

Proclaiming a week of awareness would promote proactive conversations between families, friends and caregivers about future arrangements for seniors.  Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week is an opportunity to support all seniors in Ontario in living out their “silver years” with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week

1 The week beginning on the first Monday in November in each year is proclaimed as Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week Act, 2023.