Services & Benefits for Elders in the NWT

The NWT Seniors’ Society supports Age-Friendly Communities: a community that is designed to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of older adults.

​In an age-friendly community, the policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to help seniors “age actively.” In other words, the community is set up to help seniors live safely, enjoy good health and stay involved.

 For example, in an age-friendly community:

• sidewalks are well lit and kept in good shape.
• buildings have automatic door openers and elevators.
• seniors take part in all sorts of community activities, such as visiting museums or libraries, taking courses or volunteering for charities or civic duties.

An age-friendly community:

• recognizes that seniors have a wide range of skills and abilities.
• understands and meets the age-related needs of seniors.
• respects the decisions and lifestyle choices of seniors.
• protects those seniors who are vulnerable.
• recognizes that seniors have a lot to offer their community.
• recognizes how important it is to include seniors in all areas of community life.

In an age-friendly community:

• outdoor areas and public buildings are pleasant, safe and accessible.
• housing is affordable, safe and well designed for seniors.
• roads and walkways are accessible and kept in good shape.
• public transportation is affordable and accessible.
• neighbourhoods are safe.
• relationships are respectful.
• health and community support services are available.
• opportunities for seniors to be socially active exist.
• seniors can take part in volunteer, political and employment positions.
• information is easy to find and easy to understand.

National Program

The Government of Canada, through the Public Health Agency of Canada and in partnership with the provinces and territories, has played a lead role in the development and promotion of the Age-Friendly Communities initiative across Canada.

As part of this initiative, the Pan-Canadian Age-Friendly Communities Network was created by the Agency, provinces and territories, and other key partners. Coordinated through the Agency, the Network allows community groups or individuals to exchange and share ideas, experiences, promising practices and resources with other community groups or individuals across the country who are also interested in making their communities more age-friendly.

The Government of Canada continues to encourage the uptake of the Age-Friendly Communities initiative across Canada to help make our communities better, safer and healthier places for Canadians to live and thrive as they age.

If you are interested in joining the Pan-Canadian Network, click the blue text to visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Age-Friendly Communities page.

​​Provinces and Territories promoting Age-Friendly Communities:

Many provinces are promoting age-friendly community initiatives in Canada. Click here to get a list of provinces and to see what they are doing.

The NWT Seniors Society has been funded to deliver three town halls in communities in the 2025/26 year.  The first one took place in Fort Simpson in November.  More information on the next ones will be available once communities have been selected. For more information contact the Executive Director at ed@seniorsnwt.ca.

Nineteen people attended the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Town Hall in Hay River, hosted in partnership with the Alzheimer Society Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Information on Alzheimer’s and Dementia was provided, and a discussion followed.

The 2025 Annual General Meeting was held in Yellowknife on October 21, 2025.  The next Annual General Meeting will be held in 2026.  Keep your eyes posted on the website for more information.

The NWT Seniors’ Society is a member of the Community Based Seniors Services Sector Development Initiative and a member of the Leadership Council.

Community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations form the foundation of ageing support in Canada. These local, often volunteer-led groups provide essential services like transportation, meal delivery, wellness programming, accommodations and cultural and social connection enrichment—all helping older people to age with dignity in the right place: their own communities.

Despite their value, CBSS organizations have long lacked visibility, coordinated support, and stable funding.

The NWT Seniors’ Society in partnership with HelpAge Canada delivered two consultation opportunities in  the NWT.

1. Caregiver Consultation, October 21, 2025
2. Public Consultation with seniors and members of the community, October 21, 2025

The NWT Seniors’ Society will continue to be part of this project to strengthen, connect and elevate the Community Based Seniors Services Sector.  

You can download our ‘What We Heard’ document below to know more about this initiative.

The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) is dedicated to improving the quality of care and support for older adults across Canada by bridging gaps between evidence and practice. Guided by evidence-based approaches, CCSMH works to ensure that mental health and aging receive the attention they deserve and that older adults have access to high-quality mental health care.

Advocacy and awareness-building are central to CCSMH’s work. For over 23 years, the organization has been nationally and internationally recognized for developing clinical guidelines on a wide range of topics related to the mental health of older adults.

In 2024 CCSMH launched the world’s first Clinical Guidelines on Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults. These guidelines were developed primarily for health care and social service professionals and include 17 evidence-based recommendations across prevention, screening, assessment, and interventions

Click the button below for information and help in applying for the Government of Canada’s Old Age Security benefit.