Vera and Bob Smith are typical of many retired couples in Canada — they are house rich and cash poor. They live on old age security and CPP payments, supplemented by a small private pension, and income Vera earns part-time.
Home and community care services can improve health and reduce costs, yet governments often fail to recognize their importance.
Social prescribing is health care’s cure for loneliness and social isolation. What better time to consider it?
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is behind recommendations on policies related to vaccine distribution.
Mobility researcher Edward Lemaire watched as a patient, long bound to his wheelchair, stood up and looked around the room.
He marvelled at his own height. And then he started to walk.
How does the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affect pension indexation and what impacts can we expect to see in the long term?
In the latest issue of Sage magazine, members will find a letter from our national president, Roy Goodall.
If you're wondering whether you still have to take certain medications, don’t hesitate to bring it up with your doctor or health-care professional.
Gardening expert Donna Balzer had her eyes opened to native plants when a group of tourists she was travelling with discovered Canada’s humble foxtail and fell in love with it. Credit: donnabalzer.com
This year’s mega-recruitment drive had many rewards for its hardest-working volunteers, including a draw for a $10,000 cash prize.
For Terry Davis, becoming a member of Federal Retirees is a no-brainer.
In the lead up to the October federal election, Sage reached out to all the federal party leaders to speak about Federal Retirees’ four main election issues. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and Bloc Quebecois chef Yves-François Blanchet all agreed to interviews.
From virtual volunteer recruitment to Zoom meetings with MPs, the year of COVID-19 has been an advocacy year like no other.
In the latest issue of Sage magazine, members will find a letter from our national president, Roy Goodall.
The year 2022 was a busy one with significant accomplishments despite all the COVID roadblocks.
Sage, our quarterly magazine, is brimming with engaging and informative articles about issues that matter to members.
As consumers and governments move to climate-conscious policies, Canada’s pension investors are doing the same.
Your stories are key to driving our membership focus and advocacy efforts. Sharing stories can give a compelling, authentic look at how real people are affected by issues, actions and policy, helping raise awareness about matters that are important to older Canadians.
Anxiety and stress play into a poor night’s sleep, but there are other factors, too, and unfortunately, age is one of them.
Our CEO, Anthony Pizzino, offers Association updates and shares his thoughts on what’s to come in a letter to members.
Deb Schulte may be new to cabinet, but she is not a rookie about seniors’ issues, having founded the special interest Liberal seniors' caucus.
When Deb Schulte was sworn in as Canada’s minister of seniors in November 2019, she was among eight newcomers to cabinet.
Residents of Harbourside cohousing seniors' complex on the waterfront in Sooke, B.C., walk along their private dock. From left, Marisa Collins, John Boquist, Frank Antonsen and Adrienne Booth with dogs, Chester and Zeke. Credit: Chad Hipolito
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted routines and expectations, and complicated even the simplest activities, but it hasn’t shifted our focus on your priorities.
Under the Canada Elections Act, the next election must be called prior to Oct. 16, 2023, but most minority governments have lasted fewer than two years.
New Brunswick, British Columbia and Saskatchewan all had provincial elections this autumn. Here’s how they protected their voters and their democracies.
A snap election, over the shortest possible period, during a global pandemic.
Leslie Gaudette, a volunteer advocacy program officer for the National Association of Federal Retirees, knew from the experience of family members the importance of having powers of attorney for health and finances in place.
While holding a full-time job, member Tony Yee volunteered the equivalent hours of a part-time job with the Canadian Red Cross for more than 45 years.
Patient Jessie Maisby poses for a photo in the SAM3 apartment at the Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital in Ottawa. Photo: Politics/Matthew Usherwood
Joanne Merrett, an athletic trainer, says most of her older clients kept up with their fitness by walking, biking and doing online classes.
As the vaccine rollout continues across Canada, retirees are starting to consider what parts of their lives they missed most and want back. Credit: Dave Chan
The Canadian narrative of the COVID-19 pandemic has quickly become focused on the country’s failure to protect its older adult population.
In his latest president’s letter, Roy Goodall offers a bird’s-eye view of the year so far and discusses what it means to be your PSHCP pensioner representative.
To have missed all the fuss over plant-based burgers in the last year, you’d pretty much have to have been living between a bun.
Climate change is causing increased risks for homeowners; make sure your insurance coverage is keeping up.
Cheryl Lamerson and husband Will Brooks greet the crowds while aboard an antique fire truck during last November’s Lunenburg Santa Parade. Photo: Vicki Mossman-Conrad, Lunenburg
A group of volunteers from Canada and the U.S. work together to build a classroom in Leon, Nicaragua, in February 2020 as part of SchoolBOX’s voluntourism program. Credit: SchoolBOX
Seniors groups are calling for new national standards and a comprehensive seniors strategy that includes a commitment to work on older adult care. Credit: Cpl. Genevieve Beaulieu
Photo: Aaron Cohen/Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Like many retirees, Barbara and Clarence Nepinak find themselves even busier now than when they were still working full-time.
Bernice and John Klassen moved from the suburbs to a townhome-style condo in downtown Ottawa. They say if they didn’t have a cottage, they could easily live without a car.
In his most recent letter to members, Association CEO Anthony Pizzino looks ahead to what the future holds.
While pharmacare is a hot topic these days, there is a less-discussed aspect of prescription drugs that is gaining more and more attention from health-care professionals and patients alike — deprescribing.
This spring, the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, led by former Ontario Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins, will release its much-anticipated report.
After spending a good decade researching her family history and tracing her genealogical roots, Julia Creet then turned her attention to some of the newer options ushered in through increasingly accessible technology: commercial DNA analysis.
Isobel Mackenzie, the seniors advocate in British Columbia, has been an outspoken leader on several related issues. Credit: Adrian Lam
In his president’s message, Association president Roy Goodall offers an overview of an undeniably stressful autumn and what the Association has been up to.
What is going on with Alberta’s pensions? That’s a question that was posed to me a couple of times on a recent trip to Alberta.
Retirees have realized that life at the cottage isn’t just quiet and calming, it’s also far more COVID-free. Many are setting themselves up permanently at their one-time summer retreats.
If you look through the federal government’s annual reports about our members’ pensions, you’ll quickly realize they are not the gold-plated pensions often described. However, one statistic may jump out at you: the gap in pension averages between our male and female members.
At this point, we are all too familiar with the devastating impact of COVID-19 on long-term care residents.
In several provinces, marriage revokes a will and some looking to take advantage of vulnerable seniors have used that to their advantage.
Burd Sisler, a Second World War veteran and career customs officer, has been retired longer than he worked.
The spring 2024 issue of Sage60, Sage magazine’s digital partner publication, is now live.
The second issue of Sage60, Federal Retirees’ newest digital publication, is hot off the virtual presses.
Robert Thirsk first went to space in 1996. He initially studied medicine, but when he was a resident at a hospital in New Brunswick, he saw a newspaper ad calling for applications for a new astronaut program Canada was starting. He applied immediately. Photo: Rémi Thériault
In their drive for profit and sustainability, Canadian pension plans have become some of the largest and most influential in the world.
Share your opinions for Sage winter 2020.
We’re proud of Sage magazine and we’ve published some great articles over the years, but one of our favourite aspects of the magazine is actually hearing from you, our members.
Nishika Jardine, the first woman to become veterans ombudsman, plans to help veterans, particularly Aboriginal veterans, be heard.
The fall 2024 issue of Sage60, Sage magazine’s digital partner publication, is now live.
The fourth issue of Sage60, the digital partner publication of Federal Retirees’ Sage magazine, is here.
Barbara Cretzman returned to a job she loved just one year after she retired because she believes in the mandate of the department and knew they could use her help to get the Canada Emergency Response Benefits out to Canadians. Photo: Dave Chan
It’s difficult to argue the system is protecting and promoting health when medication isn’t part of what’s covered.
Senior bureaucrat Matthew Mendelsohn has stayed in the shadows as Canada’s first chief deliveryman, but as the election approaches the spotlight will turn on his “results and delivery” unit to see how many of the Trudeau government’s promises came true.
Isobel Mackenzie has worked with seniors for the past 20 years and now, as British Columbia’s seniors advocate, she is calling for better home-care services for seniors. Credit: Adrian Lam
Social isolation among older adults was recognized as a public health issue before the pandemic but frequent lockdowns have had a significant negative impact on the situation.
Licensed practical nurse Anita Dickson speaks with authority and knowledge about public and private seniors care in British Columbia and she works hard to make change.
Josée Mayer volunteers for her branch of Federal Retirees, but she also volunteered for a COVID study when she had the virus in early 2020.
Josée Mayer was likely one of Canada’s first COVID patients — and one of the lucky ones.
From a financial request via an online romantic interest to a threatening call from the taxman, fraud attempts against older Canadians are wide-ranging and constantly evolving in their ability to deceive.