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NEWS

Upcoming events listed below celebrate seniors aging well. Most events are online, but that is changing!  Organizations offering seniors' programs have some in-person programs underway.

THE AGING FAYRE

Pacific Spirit United Church

Beacon *shining light on Growing Old group presents The Aging Fayre. Exhibits include downsizing and decluttering, updating and registering important documents, de-stigmatizing dementia, learning to prevent falls, relevant books (including a curated display from the Vancouver Public Library so bring your card!) and many other things you have been "Dying to Know."

Date: Sunday, May 7, 2023 11:30am -12:30pm 

Location: Pacific Spirit United Church Memorial Centre, 2195 W 45th Avenue

Poster here

ACCESSIBLE
BUS RENTALS

ASK Friendship Society

It is Spring in Vancouver and time for seniors' outings!

ASK has 9- and 18-passenger buses that are wheelchair accessible with high visibility drop down steps, handrails and 3-point seatbelts. ASK is renting the buses to non-profit organizations at below-commercial rates to help cover maintenance and insurance costs. If your community organization knows of a driver with a Class 4 license, ASK will provide them with an orientation for insurance purposes.

More information about rentals here

TRANSFORMING LOCAL CARE & SUPPORTS TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN WELLBEING 

Connecting People, Community Living Well

& United Way BC 

“Webinar featuring…an initiative that enhances the ability of multi-sector community teams to support the wellbeing of those living in the community…model builds sustainable ways for communities to support wellbeing.”

Date: June 12, 2023. 10:00-11:00 PDT

Register Here

CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND MOVING FORWARD

University of British Columbia and Lakehead University

A 10-minute video captures the voices of people experiencing dementia and those facilitating projects involved with Building Capacity for Meaningful Participation by People Living With Dementia. These grassroots organizations undertook a variety of initiatives to create more inclusive communities. The Building Capacity project, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, celebrates its activities and anticipates moving forward with new initiatives to inspire others.

Video Here  

LEGAL RESOURCES
FOR CAREGIVERS

Family Caregivers of BC and Nidus BC

Estate planning takes care of your assets when you die - a Will and Enduring Power of Attorney, but they do not cover health or personal care. 

If you do not want government (Public Guardian and Trustee of BC) to be involved in your personal and private affairs, you will want to make arrangements in case you need help managing your affairs due to illness, injury, or disability while you are still alive. “Choose those you trust to advocate for you and carry out your wishes, if you need help speaking up for yourself” and prepare a Representation Agreement (RA) and Advance Directive (AD). 

Read more about RA and AD here and here

AGING
STRATEGIC PLAN

Canadian Institute of Health Research 

Institute of Aging

“Older adults represent the fastest growing demographic in Canada…It's time for us to reframe what it means to age, refocus on the value of lived and living experiences and reposition health care and supports to empower older adults to live vibrant, healthy lives at every stage…research is needed to advance our understanding of what comprises health in aging and to implement effective models of care through integrated care systems.”    

Strategic Plan 2023-2028 and cross-cutting priorities here

WALK30 CHALLENGE

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST)

How do Vancouverites stack up against walkers in Burnaby, New Westminster and North Vancouver?
Let’s see which municipality can walk the most total minutes and win prizes from local businesses. The goal is for participants to walk at least 30 minutes every day and track their progress as individuals or as a group.

There are five springtime weeks (April 10 - May 14) to outdo other municipalities in a friendly competition that encourages and inspires people to walk more to improve overall health and wellness. 
You can register as an individual, or groups can choose one of two options to make logging minutes easy. There is a multilingual Challenge Runner platform to log minutes. 
Register here by April 10th and enjoy walking Vancouver’s parks and streets in their blooming glory!

Help Age Canada & CORE Healthy Aging

On Aging Canadian Conversations presents Dr. Samir Sinha, University of Toronto Health Network and expert in the care of older adults, spoke about meeting individual needs and finding the right place to age with supports that maintain one’s quality of life. Recording of a half-hour conversation with Dr. Sinha in March 2023 and links to his other presentations about practical technologies to help with aging place.

Recording here

FREE AND LOW-COST COMMUNITY FOOD RESOURCES IN VANCOUVER

AGING IN THE
RIGHT  PLACE

ALLIES IN HEALTH
STUDY

UBC Health & Adult Development Lab

“Help researchers understand how social support plays a role in the everyday life of older adults. Recruiting participants (60+) to participate with an 18+ study partner (e.g., family member, friend, neighbour). We are especially interested in having different participants from all cultural, ethnic, and social/economic backgrounds. 

Receive health feedback and either gift card or activity tracker.”

More information here or call 604-822-3549

BC COMMUNITY
SERVICE DIRECTORY

PathwaysBC

Directory of “publicly available services and programs in participating communities.” The Directory is a joint initiative between Doctors of BC’s General Practitioner Services Committee and the BC government with a support team that provides the technical infrastructure. It is free, searchable by the public, and has many filter options to narrow down keyword searches

Website here

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WELLNESS 
TOGETHER 
CANADA

Wellness Together Canada is a “collaborative project…to provide high-quality resources for everybody and supported by a wide network of organizations…funded by the Government of Canada. It was created in response to a rise in mental health and substance use concerns and…services range from basic wellness information, to one-on-one sessions with a counsellor, to community support. Wellness Together Canada is designed to be used on demand.” 

Explore resources at the website here.  If you would like to speak with a Program Navigator, call 1-866-585-0445.

CANADIAN INSTITUTE
FOR SOCIAL PRESCRIBING (CISP)

Intersectoral collaboration project anchored by the Canadian Red Cross

“CISP is a new national hub to link people and share practices that connect people to community-based supports and services that can help improve their health and well-being…   part of a global movement of people bringing community capacity and healthcare services closer together by directly addressing the social determinants of health, from loneliness and social isolation to racism and ageism to income and housing and much more.” Newsletter, events, reports, resources, etc. 

Website here 

RAISING
OUR VOICES
DOCUMENTARY

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) The Seniors on the Move (SOTM) Initiative created a short ROVING documentary that features interviews with BC seniors and experts from senior-serving agencies. R.O.V.I.N.G. (Raising Our Voices in Support of Non-Ageist Ways of Getting Around) forms the centre of a broad communications campaign and province-wide dialogue on seniors’ transportation issues.

Are you or your organization interested in hosting a community dialogue and R.O.V.I.N.G. screening? 

To get materials and support to help you through the process:

Send an email to seniorsonthemove@best.bc.ca or sign up for the BEST newsletter here

INTERGEN NS

North Shore Community Resources

 Intergenerational Program Directory and Resource Hub that “helps connect different generations on the North Shore while providing resources to help community partners establish intergenerational programming… These projects have been launched in order to actively facilitate a North Shore community that is connected, inclusive, and age-friendly.”

Information here

ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOUR MIND & BODY HEALTHY

McMaster Optimal Aging Portal

“Many outdoor activities help older adults stay physically and mentally fit. ..Physical benefits include improved strength, better endurance and greater flexibility. Exercise is not only good for the body but your mind too! It can reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and reduce depressive symptoms.” 

Ideas here

AGEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE:
SUPPORTING OLDER CANADIANS TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT

National Institute on Ageing report

“This report aims to present a practical definition and framework to understand what ageing in the right place (AIRP) is and what is required to make it work… highlights existing best practices and opportunities that can reduce unnecessary LTC home admissions and better support the implementation of successful AIRP policies and programs across Canada and beyond.”

Report and AIRP Programs & Services here

FLIPPING STIGMA ON ITS EAR TOOLKIT

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

“The discrimination caused by stigma that accompanies a diagnosis of dementia needs to be ‘flipped on its ear’! The purpose of this toolkit is to recognize and respond to this stigma and discrimination. It has been designed by people with dementia to help others – including other people living with dementia, the people who support them, and those who do research – to address the challenges of stigma and discrimination.” Video clips demonstrate interactions and stimulate discussions.

Explore the website here and sign up for Newsletter here

MUSIC AS A CAREGIVING TOOL

Family Caregivers of BC

The latest in a series of 15 Caregiver Out Loud podcasts: 

"Hear how music enhances the care experience...No matter what your musical background is, music used intentionally can be beneficial to improve health and well-being...not only for the care recipient, but for you as well, as a caregiver...hear how music enhances the care experience."

Listen here or subscribe to the series where you get your podcasts

COVID IN THE 
HOUSE OF OLD

Curator Megan J. Davies collaborated with on an installation project telling stories of those in long-term care during the pandemic: “how we failed our vulnerable elders…the sheer numbers of people who were lost…petition to transform eldercare for quality of life.” The website has the installation’s stories, pictures, audio plus educational resources (artefacts, podcasts, exhibit texts) This is a traveling exhibit now in New Westminster, then Squamish, and bookable for other sites. 
Website here

COURAGE
ACTION FOR BETTER AGING

SE Health and the Covenant Family

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on Canada’s older adults… shone a public light on many important issues at the heart of aging: safety, independence, quality of life, human connection, and well-being.COURAGE: Action for Better Aging invites Canada to get involved… look at where we are today and at models and practices that help older adults stay in their homes and communities.

A discussion paper here

BC SENIORS:
FALLING FURTHER BEHIND

Office of the Seniors Advocate, British Columbia

“The report highlights the impact of rising costs on B.C. seniors who depend on government pensions and ranks B.C…The report includes the results of a province wide survey of low-income seniors and a provincewide consultation with over 80 community agencies who work with seniors.”

Read the report here

LIVING MY
CULTURE

Canadian Virtual Hospice 

“Quality palliative care helps you honour your culture, spirituality and traditions…people from various cultures share their stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life and grief to support others.” Also videos and insights from representatives of eight global cultures.

Indigenous cultural safety training: Advanced illness, palliative care and grief and “Coming full circle: Planning for Your Care a booklet to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ choices for their future healthcare are known and respected.”

Information here

BC BRAIN WELLNESS PROGRAMS

BC Brain Wellness Centre, University of British Columbia

"BC Brain Wellness Program...provides learning opportunities for medical professionals and the general public on brain wellness practices. Wide range of free programs…from interdisciplinary collaborations with UBC's Physiotherapy, Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy, Neurology, Psychiatry, Neurosciences, Sports Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology and the School of Music as well as several community partners." 

Some May to June classes still accepting registration

Get started here.

CAREGIVER LEARNING CENTRE

Family Caregivers of BC

Caregiver resources in formats to read (articles, tips, tools, flip books), watch (webinars and videos), listen (podcasts) or take a class (free, online).

Browse here   

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT AGEISM

World Health Organization (WHO)

“This campaign aims to tackle ageism by changing how we all think, feel and act towards age and ageing…A toolkit to learn about ageism, initiate your own conversations about this important topic in your community, organize events to raise awareness, and spread the word through social media to create #AWorld4AllAges.

Tookit and related information here

FREE AND LOW-COST FOOD RESOURCES
IN VANCOUVER

Vancouver City Food Programs

There are many opportunities throughout the city - grocery deliveries, meals, community fridges - mapped with contacts and availability. 

Information here

Ongoing. Check back here for periodic updates as programs may expand or change.

HOP ON BOARD!

Active Aging Society, TransLink, Choose to Move

Learn about multi-modal transportation options available to seniors and newcomers in an engaging webinar. Hop on Board! is an up-to-date review of various ways it can be easy to use public transit in Metro Vancouver. You might qualify for a HandyCard to get out and about. If so, care partners are free

Webinar and transcript are available here

MOVE AND CONNECT WEBINAR SERIES

Active Aging Society

“Features wide-ranging health promotion and healthy lifestyle topics...series aims to connect older adults to information and services to support their physical, social, and mental health…learn strategies and set goals.” 

Example: A Prescription for Nature: Connect to Better Health Through Nature in collaboration with BC Parks Foundation. Ask your healthcare provider for a ParX Prescription – hand them

this flyer    

Series of recordings here   

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