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December 9, 2011 16:19  by Avis Favaro

They are stories that break your heart.  

Seventy-year-old Arnott, is a senior in West Toronto who phoned CTV this morning. His plight is remarkably like the other seniors we met filming our stories this week. After his rent, medication dispensing fees, his bus pass and some food, he has $7.45 cents left to last to the end of the month. And it’s Christmas. 

 “I can’t go out, I can’t afford to go out,” he said.

We put him in touch with a local seniors services group, hoping they will contact him on Monday and connect him with a social work or Meals on Wheels.

The picture emerging is that however you add it up, if you are a senior who does not have a private pension plan, a senior who doesn’t have much in savings, the provincial and federal pensions won’t do.

Most of the seniors in poverty are receiving about $1,300 a month total.  And Arnott says that whenever governments do raise the pension payments, the subsidized housing program automatically increases the rent. He is never ahead.

Arnott says he lost his personal savings in a divorce. He has a variety of ailments and spends $60 a month in dispensing fees.  Some pharmacies have written us saying they offer seniors discounts on these dispensing fees. Most do not.

He’s also had to buy a C-Pap machine to assist his breathing while he sleeps.  While some of the $1,000 pricetag is covered by provincial health care, he has to pay for it up front. To top it all, the managers of his subsidized housing asked him to move apartments. He had to pay to move his bed and furniture. Total: $500.  His doctor had to loan him the money. 

Just one of many stories we are hearing.

Along with the stories of hidden misery, we’ve had phone calls and emails that bring hope.

1.  We heard about Be a Santa to a Senior, which encourages holiday shoppers to pick up a tree ornament at a participating retailer or community partner. The ornament has a list of items requested by a needy seniors – people who would not otherwise receive a gift during the holidays. People are asked to return the ornament and the unwrapped gifts to the retailer. Here’a link:  www.beasantatoasenior.com

 2.  We heard from various Neighbourhood Link Support Services in communities that offer support, housing and transportation for seniors

 3.   We heard from the Rotary Club of Toronto. “We have a committee solely looking after the needs of seniors. One of the worst problems is homelessness of seniors. For more information call our office at 416-363-0604. We made a grant of $500,000 to the YWCA as seed money for a new residence. Spaces will be reserved for homeless senior women.”

4   Peter Cook – the CEO of Seniors for Seniors, is setting up a trust fund, to handle all the offers of help and donations from our stories this week. The address is

Seniors For Seniors In Trust
102 - 40 St Clair Ave West
Toronto M4V 1M2

His email is info@senior4seniors.ca

We’ll keep tracking this story. Send us your thoughts and comments  to health@ctv.ca 

Here are Avis Favaro's two reports on seniors living in poverty:

Impoverished seniors win monthly donation after contest (12/08/2011)

Contest uncovers hidden tragedy of impoverished seniors (12/06/2011)

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Dr. Marla Shapiroclose [x]

Dr. Marla Shapiro, MDCM CCFP MHSc FRCP(C) FCFP, is a family physician and the Health and Medical Contributor for CTV's Canada AM as well as the editor of Parents Canada magazine, launched in March 2007.

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Dr. Shapiro won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/Canadian Foundation for Women's Health Award for Excellence in Women's Health Journalism in 2006 for her documentary "Run Your Own Race." Her book, "Life in the Balance: My Journey with Breast Cancer" was released in the fall of 2006 and is a national bestseller.

For her lifelong commitment to family medicine, Shapiro was awarded the College of Family Physicians of Canada's Award of Excellence for 2008.

Angela Mulhollandclose [x]

Angela Mulholland is the editor of CTV News' semi-weekly health newsletter MedNews Express as well as the MedNews Express Blog.

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Monica Matysclose [x]

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Avis Favaroclose [x]

Avis Favaro has been with CTV News since 1992, producing stories for CTV National and CTV News Channel - Newsnet- as well as for CTV affiliate stations across the country.

Avis and producer Elizabeth St. Philip won the 2008 Media Awards for Excellence in Health Reporting handed out by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Medical association for a story on BPA found in food cans.

She has been nominated for an impressive 12 Geminis, winning once for a unique story on an experimental cancer treatment developed in Winnipeg in the 1940's.

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Dr. Yoni Freedhoffclose [x]

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One of Dr. Kamkar's greatest interests has been to provide education to enhance public awareness of mental health/illness in general and of psychological distress in the workplace. She has written articles for comprehensive public resources and provided numerous public relations - media work.

Dr. Neil Rauclose [x]

Dr. Neil Rau grew up in Ottawa. He initially studied mathematics at the University of Waterloo before completing his MD at the University of Toronto in 1991. He completed training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at McGill University in 1996, before establishing a busy private practice in Oakville. He is currently the medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Halton Healthcare Services.

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