Lead Agency

Help the Aged Canada (HTAC) is a non-profit, incorporated agency created in 1975 to represent the interests and needs of vulnerable and destitute elderly people in developing countries and in Canada.

Mission

Its mission is to improve the quality of life of the elderly poor, support their independence and inclusion, and provide services and programs to relieve distress, poverty and sickness.

Partnerships

Help the Aged partners with local, national and international organizations to support, facilitate and encourage effective and sustainable community programs and services that help the elderly to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and increase their capacity to contribute to their communities.

Internationally

Internationally, its expertise in development includes institutional support and capacity building for its southern partners, primary health care initiatives (orthopaedics, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, eye care, food aid, health promotion for the elderly), and income generation (agroforestry, agricultural, and animal husbandry).

Nationally

Nationally, HTAC provides financial, food aid, and institutional support and capacity building for 28 NGOs that offer programs and services for vulnerable elderly. 

Locally

Locally, Help the Aged Canada’s Ottawa Branch is the lead agency in the city wide Reaching Out To Isolated Seniors Network (ROTIS).   In collaboration with key stakeholders, HTAC Ottawa Branch manages the ROTIS Network and seeks funding in support of a half time project coordinator and the community mobilization component of the network. HTAC anticipates replicating the Reaching Out To Isolated Seniors model in other urban and rural areas in Canada.

The Ottawa Branch also manages the Elderly in Need grant program. On referral from a health care or social work professional, a senior client experiencing a financial crisis is able to access a one-time grant of up to $500 to help alleviate the situation.