Active Aging Grants keep seniors hip and healthy

Want to know where your dollars go when you donate to the United Way? Active Aging BC and United Way of the Lower Mainland 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 an inter-generational bee garden in Duncan. You can see a list of all of the programs funded here.

“The overall goal of these grants is to increase seniors’ level of physical activity in order to improve social connections, increase level of independence, and improve seniors’ well-being and quality of life,” said Michael McKnight, President & CEO, United Way of the Lower Mainland. “In order for a community to be great, it has to be great for everyone, no matter the person’s age.”

“As we age, physical activity to enhance mobility is key to maintaining independence and quality of life,” said Joanie Sims-Gould, Executive Director, Active Aging BC, Centre for Hip Health and Mobility. “A large percentage of older adults’ social connectedness is based on leisure activities. We know that for people over age 60, social isolation and feelings of loneliness are related to physical inactivity.”

All 30 one-year grants are up and running. Active Aging BC, a program of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, contributed $270,000 to the initiative and United Way of the Lower Mainland contributed $240,000.

In Hardy Bay, BC that means seniors like Norm and Nancy are dancing again.