The Seniors Lodge Program is Alberta’s oldest affordable housing program for seniors and is especially important in rural communities. To improve the lodge system’s efficiency and sustainability into the future, Alberta’s government is launching a seniors lodge review panel. This review will look to make the most of existing spaces and help ensure seniors can age in their community. 

“Seniors lodges play an essential role in our housing system. These facilities are important to our communities and the residents who live there, especially in rural Alberta. The Seniors Lodge Review Panel will work closely with our partners to review the program and ensure that this program is sustainable for the future.”

Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

The Seniors Lodge Program supports 10,850 lodge units in 149 lodges across Alberta. The program provides services to residents, including meals, laundry, housekeeping and recreational programming. The review will provide an opportunity to smooth transitions between lodges and continuing care homes to ensure the needs of seniors will be met when they need to access more care.

The government-led panel will be co-chaired by MLA for Leduc-Beaumont Brandon Lunty and president of the Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA) Arlene Adamson and is made up of municipal representatives, social housing and seniors organizations. The panel will begin its work in early 2024.

“The Seniors Lodge Program plays an important role in many Alberta communities. I look forward to working with fellow panel members and engaging with stakeholders and residents from across the province to discuss the importance and future of this program.”

Brandon Lunty, co-chair, Seniors Lodge Review Panel, and MLA for Leduc-Beaumont

“The Seniors Lodge Program is a unique Alberta solution that plays a critical role in supporting seniors to live well in communities, and it will be even more important as the need for housing affordability and supports increases to serve our aging population well. I am honoured to co-chair a review of this program, representing ASCHA’s members, to ensure that it meets the needs of seniors, communities and housing providers today and into the foreseeable future.”

Arlene Adamson, co-chair, Seniors Lodge Review Panel, and president, Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA)

Panel members appointed by Minister Nixon are:

  • Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, co-chair
  • Arlene Adamson, president, Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association (ASCHA), co-chair
  • Stacey Stilling, chief administrative officer, Mountain View Seniors Housing
  • Lauren Ingalls, chief administrative officer, Westwinds Communities
  • Marlys Jordan, chief administrative officer, Calgary Heritage Housing
  • Paul McLauchlin, president, Rural Municipalities Alberta
  • Tyler Gandam, president, Alberta Municipalities
  • Robin James, vice-president south region, ASCHA
  • Shane Gauthier, chief executive officer, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
  • Jennifer McCue, chief administrative officer, Bethany Care Society
  • Miriam Elhaghuagi, manager of Healthy Aging Alberta, United Way of Calgary and Area

Quick facts

  • Budget 2023 provides $40.6 million for the Lodge Assistance Program.
  • The lodge program was last reviewed in 2015.

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