FAQs
ABOUT THE FUND
1. What is the Senior Living CaRES Fund?
The Senior Living CaRES Fund (the Fund) was established in May 2020 by founding partners Chartwell Retirement Residences, Revera Inc., Extendicare and Sienna Senior Living to provide financial support to Canada’s senior living sector employees facing exceptional circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-pandemic, the Fund has transitioned to also providing bursaries for education.
2. How many senior living sector employees have received a grant to date?
Since May 2020, the Fund has awarded more than $3.1 million in emergency financial assistance and education bursaries to 970 senior living sector employees across the country.
3. What kind of financial support can employees apply for?
The Fund can provide financial support for emergencies related to shelter (e.g. house fire), health expenses (e.g. mobility equipment) and bursaries to pursue relevant post-secondary educational opportunities to advance their careers within the sector.
4. Who is eligible to apply?
Front-line senior living sector employees (casual, part-time or full-time) who have been employed for at least three months at a senior living operator in Canada (long-term care or retirement), have passed their probationary period and are in good standing.
7. Can my child apply?
No, the Fund is for senior living sector employees, not their children.
8. Can I apply for a course that I am already enrolled in?
No, the bursaries are currently designed for future courses not to cover past expenses.
9. How much do recipients receive?
The awarded amount will be based on funds available and the content of the application. No more than $10,000 will be awarded to each recipient.
10. Can I apply more than once?
No, applicants can only receive finance assistance from the Fund once.
11. Do recipients need to pay back the amount provided?
The Fund provides grants, not loans, therefore the amount provided does not need to be re-paid.
12. Am I guaranteed funding if I apply?
No. Awarded amounts will be based on funds available and the content of the application. Some applicants may not be successful in receiving financial assistance.
13. Why did the Fund start?
The Fund was created by Chartwell Retirement Residences, Revera Inc., Extendicare and Sienna Senior Living to recognize the heroic efforts of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the vision to support senior living sector employees into the future.
14. Where is money for the Fund coming from?
The Fund was founded in May 2020 by Chartwell Retirement Residences, Revera Inc., Extendicare and Sienna Senior Living who mobilized together to create and finance the Fund. It was launched with a two-million-dollar donation from its founding partners. In 2021, the Fund welcomed the RBC Foundation and Southbridge Care Homes as Platinum sponsors and OMNI Health Care as a Gold sponsor and received financial support from the RBC Foundation and the Canadian Alliance to Protect and Equip Seniors Living.
CaRES has welcome additional donors since. All current donors are listed on the Donors” page of the website.
15. Why aren’t you just paying employees more money?
The Fund is a registered charity that does not pay employee salaries. The majority of employees in the senior living sector are unionized and would negotiate salaries as part of their Collective Bargaining Agreements.
16. Can other senior living sector operators contribute to the Fund?
Operators that are interested in providing financial support to the Fund are welcome and can email info@seniorlivingcares.ca.
ABOUT ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION
17. Who is eligible for the Fund?
All casual, part-time, or full-time employees of a senior living operator in Canada, employed for at least three months at long-term care or retirement home, have passed the probationary period and are in good standing as of the application date are eligible to apply, including care staff, support services, dietary teams, administrative staff, and others.
18. Can senior living sector employees in all provinces apply?
All front-line senior living sector employees across the country are invited to submit applications.
19. What are the criteria that applicants need to meet to qualify for the Fund?
Applicants must:
- be a front-line employee (casual, part-time or full-time) of a senior living operator in Canada, employed for at least three months at long-term care or retirement home as of the application date, have passed the probationary period and are employees in good standing
- consent for the review committee to contact the applicant via email and/or phone, and
- provide a letter of support from a manager/leader
- agree to employment verification with the human resources department of their employer.
20. How do employees apply?
Applicants should contact info@seniorlivingcares.ca for the application.
21. Who decides which applicants will receive bursaries from the Fund?
Applications are reviewed and evaluated by the board of the Senior Living CaRES Fund.
For more information or to partner, please contact info@seniorlivingcares.ca