Calgary woman feeling stuck as Home Services for Seniors eligibility runs out
The eligibility changes for Alberta's Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program has left some folks without a helpful service that provides housekeeping and yardwork.
Calgary resident Lorraine Barton, 86, has lived in her quiet Bowness neighborhood home for nearly three decades and often hosts family gatherings. However, her ability to maintain her yard due to a limp is now limited. For over a decade, she has relied on the Calgary Home Services for Seniors program, which provided grass-cutting, snow shovelling, and housekeeping services.
This July, the city phased out the program and transferred seniors to Alberta's Special Needs Assistance for Seniors (SNA) system. While seniors can continue receiving support through SNA, Barton's eligibility for secondary services like yard maintenance has been reduced. City officials claim this change was due to complexity and cost, but Barton laments that snow removal will be her biggest challenge.
Barton may face eviction if she can't find a solution for snow removal, as the city's program ends in September 2026.
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