West Vancouver was among 28 B.C. communities to be awarded an age-friendly community planning and project grant.
The funding program is intended to support strategies to help seniors stay mobile, physically active, socially connected and healthy, according to B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake in a press release.
Supporting seniors' independence and health in their home communities is part of the province's strategic vision for an agefriendly British Columbia, he says.
These grants will see local governments develop locally focused plans and projects to support the needs of older adults, says Lake.
The age-friendly community planning and project grant program is a partnership between the Government of British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
Each successful local government receives up to $20,000 to help undertake a variety of activities, from setting public policy to delivering information and services that address the needs of older residents.
For the 2015 grants, local governments were encouraged to consider projects that complement Accessibility 2024 and other provincial priorities for seniors, such as dementia, elder abuse prevention and nonmedical home supports. Accessibility 2024 is the government's 10-year plan to make B.C. the most progressive place for people with disabilities in Canada.
Of the 28 funded projects, 12 projects include a focus on accessibility.
Other successful applicants will specifically address issues facing seniors in rural communities.
The West Vancouver project, Aging Well - Creativity in Motion was awarded $20,000 and will see the district work with the Society for the Arts in Dementia Care to begin a weekly creativity program and concurrent caregivers' circle.
For more information, visit ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/current-lgpsprograms/seniors-housingsupport-initiative.html or gov.bc.ca/agefriendly.
