Angie – connecting to her community
“Never would I have thought life might turn out this way…It was like everything came to an abrupt stop in a second,” 68-year-old Angie says.
Seven years ago, her husband suddenly passed away, then she suffered a series of heart attacks. She found herself struggling with declining health, on a low income, alone. She began to wonder what she had to look forward to.
“It is very isolating. You need help in making decisions and there’s nobody there,” Angie says. Her story isn’t unique.
Like other suburbs of Metro Vancouver, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadow where Angie lives has a rapidly aging population. In 2011, 72,370 seniors lived alone across Metro Vancouver and most of them are women. For seniors, loneliness is just as dangerous to health as smoking.
Active aging program changes lives
When you’re vulnerable, the right connection can save your life. Luckily, Angie found the United Way-supported Seniors Active Aging program, Let’s Walk and Roll.
Twice a month, the program, which is run out Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services Society,
provides door-to-door pick-up and drop-off services for seniors so they can go on social, recreational and educational outings with other seniors.
“The outings are precious to me. I look forward to it and I prepare myself. I’m excited when I’m able to get out to be with the other people and to go to different places. It’s not something I would do otherwise,” Angie says. “It’s a wonderful experience.”
“A lot of our seniors are isolated. They may have family, but they’re not living in the same province or in the same area. They want to go out and they want to socialize, but they don’t drive anymore,” says Sandra Salvador, Program Coordinator.
Transportation isn’t the only challenge these seniors face. About 20% of seniors living alone in Metro Vancouver are in poverty. According to Joanne Leginus, a director at Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services Society one of the biggest issues facing seniors is housing.
“Their money needs to go to their rent, there’s not a lot left over,” Joanne says. For seniors that can be catastrophic, because their social connections are often based on leisure activities.
“Many of us are on pensions and as you know pensions are very limited,” Angie says. “We can take advantage of these things without having to worry. For some people, that $10/$15 makes a huge difference.”
“Never would I have thought life might turn out this way…It was like everything came to an abrupt stop in a second.”
Today at-risk seniors are left behind from in-demand social programs.
The right connection could save their lives. Could it be you?
A strong healthy community for all
Let’s Walk and Roll is part of the United Way British Columbia/Active Aging BC partnership, which began in 2016 to keep older adults active as they age. The partnership supports programs help low-income seniors be healthier, happier and more connected, transforming their quality of life.
Angie once felt afraid and alone. Now, with regular outings with trusted friends, she’s a part of a community.
“The outings are precious to me,” says Angie. “Donors need to understand the difference you are making in another human’s life. You’re giving people their lives back.”
Since 2015, the Active Aging Research Team (AART) and the United Way British Columbia (UWLM) have been working in partnership to provide community grants that reach diverse communities and that build capacity to promote older adult physical activity, social connectedness, independence – and health.
“The outings are precious to me. I look forward to it and I prepare myself. I’m excited when I’m able to get out to be with the other people and to go to different places.”
Send a note of encouragement to Angie
SHARE THIS STORY