Well-Being Grant

The Well-Being Grant aims to improve the quality of life of low-income older adults. Selected Canadian community-based seniors services' (CBSS) organizations will be awarded with a grant of up to $10,000 to provide older adults in their communities with essential mobility and communication-enhancing equipment or devices, or access to vital day-to-day support services. For 2024, priority support services are related to food access. The goal is to support older adults to live more comfortably, safely, and independently in their homes and communities. 

Purpose of the Grant:

This grant is intended to support community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations in: 

• Promoting Independence: By funding essential mobility and communication devices,  this grant helps older adult to lead more independent lives, participate fully in their communities, and connect meaningfully with those around them. 

• Enhancing Safety: By funding installations such as ramps, handrails, lifts, and grab bars, this grant helps to safeguard the health and well-being of older adults and improve accessibility in the home. 

• Supporting Daily Living: By funding services that support daily living at home, such as meal delivery services, this grant helps to ensure that older people are able to live at home with dignity and autonomy. 

Eligibility:

This granting opportunity is available only to CRA registered charities and qualified donees.

For more information about qualified donees, please see: Qualified donees - Canada.ca

Eligible Equipment and Devices:

The grant covers a wide range of equipment and devices that improve mobility and communication, including: 

• Adjustable height or raised toilet seats 
• Pull-up T-bars 
• Customized walkers and scooters  
• Canes, crutches, and other devices that assist with mobility and enhance safety 
• Adaptive furniture 
• Chair, bed, or bathtub lifts 
• Safety aids, such as handrails and grab bars 
• Shower chairs and stools 
• Wheelchairs (including batteries, cushions, elevating devices, safety belts, and ramps) 
• Amplified phones and other adaptive hearing devices

10% overhead is also available to the CBSS organization to facilitate the equipment/ service procurement and grant administration.  

 Eligible Social Support Services:

In addition to equipment, in 2024 this grant supports the following services that enhance seniors' well-being: 

• Food access services such as:  
  • Food hampers 
  • Meals on Wheels or similar meal delivery services 
  • Congregate dining 

Note that food access services described above should be submitted under this granting stream. Innovative nutrition or food-based programs (that may still include a meal) can be applied for in the Innovative Program granting stream. 

Ineligible Expenses:

Due to limited funding, certain categories are not eligible for funding: 

• Transportation 
• Health or dental treatment 
• Home renovations not related to accessibility 
• Home support services such as cleaning, yard work, etc.
• Personal care items (e.g., clothing, toiletries) 
• Utilities and household bills 
• Social prescribing initiatives (e.g., seniors’ centre memberships)

Evaluation: 

• We are seeking to support a variety of CBSS organizations from a variety of communities across Canada.  
• We are seeking to fund a variety of equipment and services.  
• Applications will be scored on the overall quality (including articulation of the need, and clarity of the budget) as well as overall impact (number of persons supported and urgency of need) 

Applications will close at 11:59PM EDT on August 5, 2024.