Northern Health and the provincial government have announced additional funding for three northern B.C. communities to improve senior programs, including Prince George.
“We are making investments into community-based seniors’ services in every corner of the province,” Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, says in a release. “This includes transportation and social inclusion programs to help seniors stay active in the community and engaged in community programs that support healthy aging and quality of life.”
Each chosen community will receive $100,000 to help maintain meaningful connections through community projects to help support healthy aging in place and improve opportunities for social connections.
“Seniors are the hearts of our communities and they deserve to get the support they need to live the healthiest lives possible,” Anne Kang, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors and Multiculturalism, adds in the release. “By increasing community-based services within the community, seniors will better be able to live independent lives and stay physically and socially active.”
The three northern projects are as follows:
- Prince George Council of Seniors - $100,000 to create a variety of programming in conjunction with community partners, including an Ambassador Program to assist seniors to integrate into participating community seniors centres in Prince George
- Dawson Creek Society for Community Living - $100,000 to improve access to healthy food and social connection for seniors, and is currently conducting focus groups with and planning a survey for local seniors on these topics
- Smithers Community Services Association - $100,000 to improve social connections, encourage greater participation at existing programs, and work with community partners to more fully understand needs for new services and enhancements to current programs
“Northern Health’s shared goal, with the Ministry of Health and community organizations supporting seniors, is to improve the lives of seniors through developing services and supports in the community to allow people to live at home, longer,” Northern Health board chair Colleen Nyce says. “We look forward to these programs benefiting seniors across our region.”
