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
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
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
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
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
For over 20 years, Linda Pringle has called a cozy Coquitlam neighbourhood, her home. “I love living here,” she says of Westwood Plateau, on the border of Burke Mountain. “You feel like you can get away from the city, even though you’re just five minutes up the street. We’re a friendly, multicultural community. Every day
Senior loneliness and isolation are import 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 however, is that loneliness and isolation are not synonymous. A McMaster University study defines isolation as a state that arises from having too few
Today is National Carers Day across Canada, a day to celebrate and thank caregivers and recognize the essential role they play in the success of our community. Caregiving is an incredibly difficult job and the related statistics are staggering. Every year, caregivers contribute roughly $25 billion in unpaid labour to the Canadian health system, while
Leifang faced a number of challenges when she arrived in Richmond as a new immigrant. She didn’t speak any English and had difficulty navigating the different technology she needed to keep in touch with her family back home in China. As an older adult in a rapidly aging society, she was not alone. In an
It’s a fact: across Canada, individuals over the age of 85 now outnumber those under 15. And we’re living longer: there are now more than 8,000 centenarians in Canada. For British Columbians of all ages, these statistics serve as an important reminder that the overall wellness of our seniors must remain a top priority, especially
Active Aging BC and United Way British Columbia have partnered to keep older adults active as they age. Thirty “Seniors Active Aging” grants were distributed across BC in 27 communities. Programs range from connecting First Nations elders to community recreation in Prince George, to intercultural Tai Chi in Surrey, to chair yoga in Mission and