CHANGE A LIFE
Today is National Senior’s Day, a day to celebrate and honour the seniors in our lives – who are our teachers, mentors, neighbours, friends and family members. Healthy Aging by United Way supports regular programs across BC that help seniors with basic day-to-day tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own
Making the lives of older British Columbians better strengthens the social fabric that creates healthy, caring, and inclusive communities for all ages. At no time has this been clearer than in the face of the devastating COVID-19 global pandemic. When the crisis hit, British Columbians readily stepped up to support seniors. From volunteers to community organizations
Every year, about 6,500 British Columbians have a stroke. Around 75% of them are over the age of 65. A stroke survivor may spend days or weeks in acute care, and then days, weeks or months in rehabilitation whether as an inpatient, an outpatient, in a community-based setting, or some combination of those. This is
Don’t let the distance fool you, Kelowna residents Mary-Ann and Glen are becoming fast friends. That’s one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic – newfound connections and appreciation. “The first time I met Glen, he looked me straight in the eyes and there was a connection there,” says Mary-Ann. “It hit me really
COVID-19 has dramatically changed how seniors go about their daily lives. It’s also changing how United Way partner agencies and those delivering services to seniors work too. “As difficult as COVID-19 has been for all of us, we are witnessing the resilience of seniors and the creativity of the community-based seniors sector shine in so
For new United Way British Columbia volunteer Edmond Law, being on the ground helping was an eye-opening experience into how COVID-19 is impacting people’s lives. Edmond helped greet people and ensure social distancing among community members at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House when they recently provided hot lunches and distributed food hampers. “There are many vulnerable people who
Before COVID-19, the street outside Collingwood Neighbourhood House in East Vancouver was bustling, with lots of foot traffic going past the building all day, every day. Inside, the space was an active hive, with chatter in a multitude of different languages, including Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi, Punjabi, Vietnamese and Japanese. Visitors would comment on the vibrancy, diversity and buzz of the Neighbourhood House. These days, it’s just a sparkling clean, quiet
Taking a break after chair yoga class, Don is relaxed with his sneakers kicked off, chatting about the physical impacts of aging. He quotes from a Leonard Cohen song. “You start to ache in the places you used to play,” he says with a smile. At 88, Don has led a rich life. He began
Feeling alone. It’s a hardship many seniors across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley experience daily. Perhaps you know someone—a parent, a grandparent or a friend, who is experiencing this. It becomes especially painful during the holidays for seniors like Sally who don’t have any family close by. That’s why United Way’s Active Aging* programs
On a crisp Winter evening recently in the Fraser Valley, the commercial kitchen at the Sardis Community Church was filled with a flurry of activity and a bouquet of aromas. Chef Rim, her 15-year-old daughter Jennifer and her good friend Sand spent an afternoon and early evening preparing a Syrian banquet for local residents and
What’s the secret of a long life? For 86-year-old Bernice, it is painting, crocheting and playing ukulele, while 93-year-old Janine credits eating properly – meat, potatoes, vegetables and dessert. And like 74% of seniors over 85 they are living in their own homes. Like a growing number of Richmond citizens, these women are at the
Over 350 advocates are set to descend in at the Provincial Summit on Aging November 6 to 8, hosted by Healthy Aging by United Way and the Community-Based Seniors’ Service Leadership Council. The second biennial summit will bring together leaders from local organizations, older adults, family and friend caregivers, academia and government. The diverse group
Active. Independent. Engaged. That’s how most of us want to live our lives, but for seniors with hearing loss it can be challenging. Anyone who has experienced a family member or friend with this impairment, especially in a social setting like a family gathering, knows just how isolating it can be. So, it’s no surprise
Senior loneliness and isolation are important issues affecting our community. Both threaten older adults’ independence, and can create health risks as significant as obesity, smoking or alcoholism. What may be surprising is that loneliness and isolation are not synonymous. “You can be surrounded by lots of people and still be lonely or you can be
As we age, one of the biggest threats to our independence is social isolation. And the need to keep seniors mentally engaged in their communities has never been greater. Kahir Lalji, the provincial program manager of Better at Home and United Way’s Active Aging grant, an organization dedicated to helping senior citizens with day-to-day
Conversations about housing, finances and health care can be hard. These subjects can be even more difficult to broach with an aging parent. Many of us struggle, asking ourselves: When is the right time to have these conversations? Can I tell my mum that I worry about her falling? How do I talk about my
“What do we have, if we don’t have a connection? We have only ourselves,” says Marlene, a Seniors Community Connector, who helps other seniors access life-changing programming in her East Vancouver neighbourhood. She believes that everyone, no matter their age, should be connected to local home care and transportation services, as well as community-building activities,
Seniors’ poverty in British Columbia is the highest rate in the country, according to the B.C. Seniors’ Poverty Report Card released today by the Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC), in partnership with United Way British Columbia. The B.C. Seniors’ Poverty Report Card is the first of its kind and is
When her husband passed away eight years ago, Olive Jean moved to Mission to be closer to her family. Being near her son has helped her. “But I knew from the beginning he could not be the only thing [to help me],” she says. For Olive Jean, spending time in her community, staying active and
The old adage remains true as ever: sharing is caring. There is no greater example of this than at the Sharing Farm Society, a local non-profit that grows food to feed families in need. Run by community members, for community members, the Sharing Farm provides fresh, healthy, local produce for the Richmond Food Bank and