Accessibility Tools

Municipal Office - 2357 Highway 206, P.O. Box 120, Arichat, Nova Scotia B0E 1A0
(902) 226-2400, Toll Free: 1-800-567-2600

Seniors Resources and Support

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Photo Credit: Derrick Cameron

 Senior Resources and Supports

 

Acting Collectively Project

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Aging adults can live at home longer, healthier, and more independently when there are community support and services in place to meet their needs. The ACTing Collectively project is a local and collaborative effort to improve the well-being and safety of aging adults in Cape Breton. The project launched summer of 2022 in Richmond County, Victoria County, and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Adults 65 and older, living in these communities are invited to take part in this project by having a one-hour conversation about what they need to live well in their local communities. Individuals taking part in the interviews will receive a list of local resources they can contact to address their needs. Information on identified needs and resources available to meet those needs will be summarized and shared with leaders and policymakers in the local communities. This will help local communities identify and plan the local resources and services needed to help adults in Cape Breton age well at home.

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Final Report

On this page, you will find a summary of high-level findings from the project.

Findings | ACTingCollectively

 

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Better with Age Newsletter

To subscribe to the newsletter, visit Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter

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Latest Issue:  Summer 2025

Click on the link below to read in the online magazine style format or PDF.

https://online.pubhtml5.com/qkgt/iiqf/

  pdf Summer 2025(2.62 MB)

To read past issues, visit the following:

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 Body, Mind, Spirit Tool Kit

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The Mind Body and Spirit Project was a collaborative partnership involving many community partners in Richmond County.     
Funding was made possible through the community funding stream streams funding with Mental Health and Addictions,   
Department of Health and Wellness and the Municipality of the County of Richmond. The Dr. Kingston Memorial Community
Health Centre was pleased to act at the official sponsor and provided the overall coordination for the project.

  • To view or download the Body, Mind, Spirit Took Kit click on this link:  pdf Spirit Tool Kit (4.72 MB)   
  • If you have any questions, please contact the Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Center at
    (902) 587-2800.

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 Calendar of Events

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For a list of events happening in Richmond County during September, please download the   pdf September calendar(18.13 MB)  or check out the online version:https://online.pubhtml5.com/qkgt/pkkw/
  • Printed copies are also available in the foyer of the Municipal Administration Building.
  • The weekly calendar can also be viewed daily at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Telile Community Television.  

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 Comfort Centre List

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 To view the list of comfort centers in Richmond County, updated October 3, 2023,  pdf visit, Comfort Center List.(144 KB)

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 Grants and Programs

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Accessible Housing Program

Department: Organization: Provincial Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Description: 

The Accessible Housing Program helps low- and moderate-income homeowners with the cost of accessibility adaptations (upgrades) to help people with disabilities and seniors stay in their homes.

Use the funding for accessibility adaptations (like wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, accessible kitchens and other changes) that allow persons to live independently in their principal residence. A principal residence is the home they own and live in.

Funding amount

The Accessible Housing Program may fund up to $18,000 of eligible accessibility adaptations. For larger accessibility adaptation projects an additional $20,000 may be available as a repayable loan. The applicant or other sources need to fund the remaining balance of the costs.

The funding provides $10,000 as a grant and $8,000 as a forgivable loan. To have the loan forgiven, you must meet the loan conditions.

Eligible adaptations: 

Accessibility adaptations need to be permanent and follow health and safety standards.

Eligible adaptations need to directly address the disability or permanent reduced ability of the household member (like kitchen or bathroom reorganization and adaptations, interior chair lifts and other adaptations). Emergency adaptations are given priority.

Emergency adaptations include adaptations that make sure you can access your home (like a wheelchair ramp, widening a doorway or exterior chair lift).

Eligible costs include:

  • material
  • labour
  • adaptation assessments
  • building permits
  • legal fees

Deadline: Continuous intake

Contact: 
Phone: 902-563-2120
Toll-free: 1-844-424-5110
Fax: 902-563-2370

Website: https://beta.novascotia.ca/accessible-housing-program

Property Tax Rebate for Seniors

Department - Organization: NS Dept of Public Works
Description: This program helps our seniors with the cost of their property taxes by providing a rebate of half of the previous year’s property taxes, up to $800.  

To qualify for the rebate, you need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • your 2024 municipal residential property taxes are paid in full (your name is on the property title)
  • you lived at the property as your primary residence in 2024 (the property can't be someplace that you live occasionally or a seasonal home)
  • you receive or are eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance from Service Canada

Deadline: Currently open for applications - apply for the rebate by 31 December 2025.

Contact: 
Phone: 902-424-6538
Email: 

Website: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-property-tax-rebate-property-tax-rebate-seniors

Secondary and Backyard Suite Incentive Program

The Secondary and Backyard Suite Incentive Program helps homeowners create supportive housing for family members or affordable housing for tenants on their property. Homeowners can apply for a loan to build a secondary or backyard suite on the property of their primary residence. You can apply anytime.

Funding is available for up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $40,000. The applicant needs to fund the remaining balance of the project.
The funding provides a forgivable loan. Terms of up to 5 years are available. Funding for more than 1 secondary or backyard suite may be available if allowed by the municipality

Direct link: 
https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-build-secondary-or-backyard-suite-your-property-secondary-and-backyard-suite-incentive-program

Program - Support to transition from oil heating to heat pumps.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia are working together to help low and median-income Canadian households who are currently heating their homes with oil to make the transition to electric cold-climate heat pumps. The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) Program provides up to $10,000 to help eligible homeowners make this switch and may be combined with funding from existing federal and provincial programs including the Canada Greener Homes Grant (CGHG) and programs offered by Efficiency Nova Scotia. Meaning homeowners can increase the amount of rebates they receive for heat pumps, if moving away from oil, and can also receive support to upgrade electrical panels.

The OHPA Grant will provide up to $10,000 to cover costs for the purchase and installation of an eligible* Cold Climate air source heat pump, plus:

  • electrical and mechanical upgrades required for the new heat pump;
  • safe removal and/or decommissioning of the oil tank;
  • installation of a back-up electric heating system (as required); and
  • switching over other oil-using household systems, such as a hot water heater (where necessary).

Non-eligible costs would include cleanup of any pre-existing oil contamination found on-site at households.

*Only the cold climate air source heat pumps found on this Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps list are eligible under the OHPA program. 

Eligibility

Homeowners may be eligible for the OHPA Grant if: 

  • their home is oil-heated as of January 2023 (this must be demonstrated with copies of their oil fuel bills from the 12 months preceding their application); 
  • they are the primary resident and owner of a single/ semi-detached home located in Nova Scotia and can provide proof of ownership; and
  • their total household income is at or below the maximum annual household income after-tax, as determined by Statistics Canada and outlined in the below chart.

For more information visit, Efficiency Nova Scotia 

For additional information on other grants and programs, visit Other Grants and Programs.

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Positive Aging Directory

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To view or download the 2025-2026 Positive Aging Directory, visit Positive Aging

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Senior Club List - Richmond County 

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  • Arichat - Isle Madame New Horizons Senior Citizens Club - Phone: 902-219-3102
  • Dundee / St. George’s Channel - South Mountain Golden Arms Association - Phone: 902-345-0495
  • Grand River – Grand River Seniors Club - Phone: 902-587-2143
  • L’Ardoise – L’Ardoise Jolly Seniors Club - Phone: 902- 302 2563  
  • Louisdale – Fleurs de Lis Seniors Club - Phone: 902-345-2232
  • Lower River – Riverdale’s Seniors Club 55 - Phone: 902-625-0166
  • River Bourgeois – River Bourgeois 50+ Seniors - Phone: 902-535-2141
  • Red Islands – Bras d’Or Lakes Seniors Club - Phone: 902 631-5643
  • St. Peter’s – Bonnie Brae Seniors Citizens Club - Phone: 902-535-2835
  • Petit de Grat - Le Regroupement des aînés de la Nouvelle-Écosse (RANE) - Phone: 902-226-0077

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 Seniors Information Line

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211 is available in English, French and a variety of other languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Nova Scotians can access 211 by phone, e-mail at , or go to ns.211.ca.

This service provides information on seniors' programs and services which include:

  • Discussing areas of concern
  • Help in accessing information dealing with government services and programs.

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 Senior Safety Program

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Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre
40 School Rd.
L'Ardoise, Richmond County,
Nova Scotia, B0E 1S0

General Inquiries: 902-587-2800
Fax: 902-587-2813

Hours of Operation

The hours of operation varies, please phone general inquiries at 902-587-2800.

Service Description

Helps seniors navigate local services that increase their safety, security, health and well-being. Provides presentations on and information about:

  • Falls prevention
  • Online, mail, phone, and door-to-door fraud and scams awareness
  • Mindfulness-based stress reduction
  • Elder abuse awareness

Eligibility

Open to all who identify as a senior.

Application Process

Call or email to request a presentation or service navigation assistance. There are not documents required for eligibility nor any fees.

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Senior Take Action Coalition

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The coalition assists, supports, and advocates to ensure all seniors' issues and concerns are addressed.

The Board of Directors of Seniors Take Action Coalition of Richmond County promotes an age-friendly community and is committed to engaging older adults to live healthy, safe, and active lives. The Coalition works together collaboratively to ensure the issues that impact older adults remain a priority in Richmond County.

For more information, go to Seniors Take Action Coalition on Facebook.

2024 Seniors Take Action Coalition year in review document.   pdf A Year at a Glance STAC 2024(324 KB)

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STAC ANNUAL REPORT

If you would like to learn more about the work of the Seniors Take Action Coalition of Richmond County in the past year, check out their annual report.

To view or download your own PDF copy go to  pdf STAC Annual Report 2023-2024(1.80 MB)

Strait Richmond Hospital

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Strait Richmond Hospital serves the health care needs of the residents of communities in Richmond County and the southern portion of Inverness County.

Patient Switchboard: 902-625-3350
Administrative Switchboard: 902-625-3100

For service status updates, please visit: Strait Richmond Hospital | Nova Scotia Health (nshealth.ca)

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