News release

Expanded Seniors Care Grant Open for Applications

Seniors and Long-Term Care

Older Nova Scotians can now apply for grants to help with the cost of household chores, healthcare services and home heating.

The Seniors Care Grant program provides up to $500 to help support eligible seniors to live well at home. People applying for the grant are also able to apply for a new, one-time grant of $250 to help with heating costs.

“We know that rising costs, growing healthcare needs, and challenges completing household chores make it difficult for some older Nova Scotians to live comfortably in their own homes,” said Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care. “By expanding the types of services supported through the Seniors Care Grant and helping with heating costs, we are giving seniors the help they need and the peace of mind they deserve.”

The Seniors Care Grant helps cover the costs of services such as snow removal, small repairs, lawn care, transportation, and grocery and medication delivery. The list of eligible expenses has been expanded this year to include phone and internet costs, and health services like eye exams, dental work, mental health supports, physical therapy and foot care.

The new $250 home heating grant is available to eligible Nova Scotians 65 and older, including people who have already received money through the Seniors Care Grant or Heating Assistance Rebate Program in the past year. The grant is available for the cost of furnace oil, natural gas, propane, firewood, wood pellets and electricity.

More information about the grants, including how to apply, who is eligible and eligible services is available:

Applications close on March 31, 2023.

Expansion of the Seniors Care Grant program is part of Action for Health, the government’s strategic plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Quotes:

“People here at Spencer House are very grateful for the Seniors Care Grant. Any bit of help we can get is very much appreciated. It adds up to a big boost for people our age – for our morale, mental health and day-to-day needs.”

– Judy Bonnell, Halifax senior and member of the Spencer House Seniors Centre board of directors

Quick Facts:

  • people who received a seniors care grant between December 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022, are eligible to apply for a new grant
  • applicants must keep receipts for work or services provided, live in a home or apartment they own or rent, and have an annual net household income of $37,500 or less
  • the government is investing about $29 million in the grants this year
  • more than 27,000 Nova Scotia seniors received a seniors care grant in the program’s first year

Additional Resources:

News release – Helping Seniors Cover Heating Bills, Other Increasing Costs: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20220728003

Heating Assistance Rebate Program:
https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-heating-assistance-rebate-heating-assistance-rebate-program

Property Tax Rebate for Seniors:
https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-property-tax-rebate-property-tax-rebate-seniors

Financial assistance and grant programs for homeowners: https://housing.novascotia.ca/programs/financial-assistance-and-grant-programs-homeowners

Action for Health, a strategic plan to address recent and long-standing problems in acute and primary care, long-term care, addictions, and mental health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

Mandate letter of the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-SLTC.pdf

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