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.
BC COMMUNITY
SERVICES
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
MOBILIZING TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR OLDER ADULTS
Canada Healthy Aging CORE
“Launching a series of monthly 90-minute webinars to mobilize action on various issues by focusing on effective models and the policies, practices, partnerships, and networks that support them. Through interviews and discussions with practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers, each session will explore a topic and the key issues and challenges.” Q&A + opportunity to join a discussion group.
Times: 10:00am-11:30 Vancouver time (except Sep 29th)
Dates: Last Thursday of every month for the first three sessions.
September 29th: Re-orienting Health and Social Services for Older Adults: Provincial Strategies for Community-Based Seniors Services Recording here
October 27th:Age-friendly Communities: A Key Strategy in Promoting the Well-Being of Older Adults Recording here
November 24th: Housing and Living Arrangement Options for Older Adults: At home. In community
January 26th & February 23rd, 2023 TBD
PERSONAL
PLANNING
WORKSHOPS
Seniors Health & Wellness Institute, COSCO
Do you have specific guidelines for family and friends to follow for your future? If you need to plan and document your personal, medical, and legal matters, a weekly series of free webinars will answer many questions and help you prepare the necessary documents.
Dates: Each Wednesday October 26th through December 7th at 10:30am Register separately for each webinar more than 24h in advance.
Information and registration 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
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ON AGING: CANADIAN
CONVERSATIONS
Healthy Aging CORE Canada & Help Age Canada
“On Aging Canadian Conversations is a twice monthly series featuring discussions with thought leaders about timely topics on aging. Join us for the third and fourth Thursday of every month for a 30-minute break in your day to get informed and inspired.”
Oct 13, 2022 Vanessa Sparks, Senior Services Specialist, Toronto Public Library, “promote and support the social and digital inclusion of older adults” Recording here
October 27, 2022
Topic: Canada Home Share conversation with Dr. Raza M. Mirza features housing and aging in community with an intergenerational approach Recording here
Topic: Social Prescribing: "a holistic approach to healthcare that brings together the social and medical models of health and wellness. It provides a formal pathway for health providers to address the diverse determinants of health, using the familiar and trusted process of writing a prescription.” Dr. Kate Mulligan, Lead for Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP), Advisor Canadian Red Cross, Asst. Prof. University of Toronto.
Register here
Subsequent episodes at 9:00-9:30am Pacific Time: Nov 24th: Dec 8th; Jan 5th
CURRENT STATE OF SOCIAL PRESCRIBING
IN CANADA
Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing and Canadian Social Prescribing Community of Practice
“Report will help support the development of a national model of SP in Canada…What is Social Prescribing?...There are many programs, services and initiatives that are focused on connecting individuals to non-clinical supports that provide a person-centred approach to improving their health and well-being…only some are formally referring to their work as a SP approach...Five common stages: entry..connection…attendance…follow-up...exit from the program or service.” Three initiatives spotlighted, including Fraser Health Authority’s Seniors Community Connectors.
Report available here
RAISING
OUR VOICES
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 in 2022 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
SELF-MANAGEMENT BC
UVic Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health and Ministry of Health
Self-Management BC, supported by the Province of British Columbia, offers FREE health programs for adults of all ages living with one or more ongoing health conditions. Programs are offered in person, virtually, online, by telephone, or by mail for adults living in BC. Gain knowledge, skills and confidence. Volunteer opportunities. Programs for Chinese, Punjabi and Indigenous communities.
Video: What's In Them For You here
BC programs, registration and community resources here and poster 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
VALUE OF FAMILY CAREGIVING
Research on Aging, University of Alberta & University of Manitoba
Infographic with statistics about caregivers’ contributions to the Care Economy in terms of FTE, hours, percent of population involved, and economic value.
Document 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
CREATIVITY AS A FORM OF SELF-CARE
Family Caregivers of BC
The latest in a series of 14 Caregiver Out Loud podcasts: “engaging with creativity is a form of self-care that can benefit both a caregiver and a care recipient in many ways…This is a conversation with a caregiver about how being creative has helped her deal with some of the ups and downs in her caregiving journey.”
Next episode Oct 18th 10:00am:Self-Reflection:The Basis of Being an Empathic Caregiver
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." Winter registration: December.
More information and December registration 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 here
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 this summer. If so, care partners are free!
Webinar is 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
Recording here