Manitoba seniors will have more opportunity for active, socially engaging, independent lifestyles with $362,000 in funding to support age-friendly work in the province, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau announced.
“I am proclaiming October as Seniors’ and Elders’ Month in Manitoba in recognition of the continuing contributions of seniors in our province and to promote the well-being of older Manitobans,” said Rondeau. “We are committed to the interests and needs of older Manitobans; one of the ways we are demonstrating that commitment is by supporting age-friendly communities that allow older Manitobans to remain in their homes longer.”
The announcement was made at the Seniors’ and Elders’ Day celebration at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The organizing committee chose the theme ‘Homecoming’ in recognition of Manitoba Homecoming 2010 being celebrated around the province all year.
The funding will support the age-friendly work of Age and Opportunity, Creative Retirement Manitoba, la Fédération des âinés franco-manitobains, the Aboriginal Seniors Resource Centre, the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, the Active Living Coalition of Older Adults in Manitoba, the Manitoba Society of Seniors and the Transportation Options Network for Seniors in addressing issues such as healthy aging, elder abuse, social isolation, transportation and intergenerational activities.
Launched in 2008, the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative encourages policies, services and structures that support and enable older adults to live in security, enjoy good health and continue to participate fully in society, Rondeau said. The Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative continues to gain momentum throughout the province with 75 per cent of Manitoba’s population living in communities that are becoming age-friendly, he added.
Rondeau also highlighted the A Safer Home – A Safer You DVD which features two videos of interest to seniors, Protecting Your House and Home Falls Prevention. To increase the accessibility of the DVD, it is now available on the Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors website. (View the DVD). The DVD is part of the SafetyAid program supported by Manitoba Justice and Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, and delivered by Age and Opportunity. SafetyAid focuses on home safety and crime prevention for seniors.
Communities throughout Manitoba are participating in Seniors’ and Elders’ Month by hosting an event to celebrate seniors. The calendar of over 50 events can be viewed online.
