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.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WELL-BEING: BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS
PlanH
”A changing climate leads to increased stress and anxiety due to the occurrence of extreme weather events, displacement from homes and economic disruption. Climate anxiety is a rapidly growing issue…Webinar examines how socio-ecological forces relate to mental health, stigmatized behaviour and health inequalities.”
Date: March 30, 2023 10:00am PDT
More information and register here
City of Vancouver
“If you are a renter in Vancouver, you have rights, both through the Province and the City. If you live in the Broadway Plan area, you now have additional rights through the recently approved Broadway Plan…Knowing what your rights are will help you make the best decisions for your specific circumstance and find support if your building is being sold, renovated or replaced with a new building.”
Drop-in event for advice from city staff on tenant rights; legal advocacy and other government and social service organizations also present.
Date: Monday, April 3, 2023 3:30--6:30pm
Location: Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2305 W. 7th Ave at Vine St., Vancouver
Ongoing information:
Poster here for Renters & Broadway Plan
Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy enquiry line: 604-673-8001 HousingPolicy@vancouver.ca
AGE WITH DIGNITY & AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The National Pensioners Federation
Online panel discussion about Canadian housing policies, seniors’ & disabilities accommodations, tenant rights, and affordable housing wait lists.
Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 11:00am-12:30pm PDT
Register 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).
CLEAR
Climate, Lived Experience and Resilience Community Consultation
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH)
During an extreme heat event, the 2021 heat dome, VCH and non-governmental partners reached out to residents with resources and supports. Now VCH is engaging vulnerable populations - people with disabilities or chronic conditions, older adults, people experiencing homelessness or marginally housed - in focus groups, one-on-one phone conversations or surveys. VCH wants their input on how they managed heat and other climate-related events during 2021-2022 and how to plan for the future.
More information and to register or complete the survey 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!
Office of the Seniors Advocate & BC Patient-Centred Measurement
“Go directly to the people who live in long-term care to seek their opinions of how well B.C.’s long- term care system is meeting their needs.” This is the second time the Seniors Advocate has sought out the collective perspectives of residents and their family members/visitors. Surveyors are trained to conduct in-person interviews that collect data on quality of care and services…province-wide survey and Vancouver, Richmond and Coquitlam surveyors with diverse language skills are needed now so the survey reaches all residents of publicly-funded long-term care homes.
More information here
LONG-TERM CARE SURVEY:
SURVEYORS NEEDED
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."
January-April 2023 class registration begins
January 9th. Explore classes 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