local Prince George seniors have not been immune from rising costs across the province

By Tommy Osborne

Seniors

Seniors “falling through the cracks” according to recent report

Jun 19, 2024 | 4:43 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A report from the B.C. Seniors Advocate says many seniors across the province are “falling through the cracks” in the province’s existing support systems.

“Due to the rising costs of living, many seniors report they cannot afford their rent, pay their bills, buy food, find money for home repairs or pay for over-the-counter medications and other health related expenses,” the report by Dan Levitt reads.

Here in Prince George, seniors are also feeling the pinch, especially with grocery prices.

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“The cost of groceries is really high. We aren’t on a pension, so you really do struggle. We don’t go out for meals because it’s so expensive to go to restaurants. But we do eat good at home, so we offset it that way,” said local senior Vi Summerfeld.

“We just watch what what we spend our money on, we don’t buy stuff that you don’t need. You just buy what you need. The most important thing is food,” said local senior Sylvia Delaurier.

“I lost my wife and my only income dropped by a third. So I had to watch everything and be more careful. Everybody’s got to be careful to live according to your means,” added senior David Erickson.

While some seniors have been able to manage with careful budgeting, the Prince George Council of Seniors (PGCOS) says those living on a lower annual income have faced real challenges to purchase just the necessities.

“They have anywhere between $25,000 to $30,000 a year, which in today’s world, it’s not a whole lot. It is such a major challenge to actually just survive in this current situation where we are right now,” said PGCOS Executive Director Malhar Kendurkar.

Among other challenges, Kendurkar says affording rent and healthy groceries both is near impossible for some, leading to sacrifices in nutrition. Beyond the stress of not being able to afford both food and rent, he adds rising costs have also led to more mental health concerns, as going out is also more costly.

“They cannot afford to get gas, they cannot afford to have insurance for their vehicles,” he said.

The PGCOS offers many supports to help seniors who may be struggling with rising costs, including healthy meal programs like Meals on Wheels, the Better at Home program for housekeeping services, and many social events. You can learn more at the PGCOS’s website here.

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