Healthy Aging
Programs designed to help aging British Columbians remain active, connected, and engaged in their existing communities.
Active, Connected, and Engaged!
These are the essential elements for health and wellness, especially as we age. At United Way BC, our Healthy Aging programs are designed to foster these key aspects, ensuring that older adults in our community thrive.
We offer a wide range of programs and initiatives for older adults and provide capacity-building opportunities for the seniors’ serving sector in BC. Our work is driven by the community and dedicated to serving the community.
Through collaboration with the Community-Based Seniors’ Services (CBSS) sector, we’ve created a service model that is not only collaborative and responsive but also flexible and robust. This intentional and ongoing community engagement guarantees that our programs stay relevant and impactful.
This kind of intentional and ongoing community engagement ensures our programs remain relevant and meaningful – that they reduce seniors’ isolation and enhance the quality of life for older British Columbians, their families, friends, caregivers, and allies.
- Programs
- Healthy Aging Team
- In the News
- Research & Reports
- Community Engagement
- Project Impact Healthy Aging
- CBSS Leadership Council
- Grants Map
- Blog
Healthy Aging Programs
United Way BC Healthy Aging administers grants and manages programs that provide exceptional quality-of-life benefits to seniors, helping them stay Active, Connected and Engaged!
In 2023-24, United Way BC’s Healthy Aging portfolio oversaw seven provincial community grants and programs: Better at Home, Family & Friend Caregiver Supports, Social Prescribing, Therapeutic Activation Programs for Seniors (TAPS), Navigation and Peer Support, Digital Learning Program/Active Aging Plus, and Men’s Sheds.
In the past year, United Way BC’s Healthy Aging programs served over 36,000 older adults across the province through 183 programs facilitated by community agencies. These programs delivered over 573,000 services, invested more than $20 million into local communities, and engaged over 4,200 volunteers dedicated to supporting seniors. (Please note these values are not yet finalized.)
Our focus remains on health promotion and preventive practices, offering senior-centered programming and services that foster independence, social engagement, physical activity, and a sense of belonging.
Looking ahead, United Way BC is launching a new Healthy Aging Program and Service Delivery Model. Our vision is to create a province-wide network of Healthy Aging Community Collaboratives that strengthen partnerships within and among communities. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of the CBSS sector to holistically and effectively support older adults.
Together, we are United for Seniors in Need.
Healthy Aging Team
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Kahir Lalji
Provincial Director, Government Relations & Government Programs -
Bobbi Symes
Director, Healthy Aging -
Camille J. Hannah
Assistant Director, Healthy Aging -
Olivia Bornik
Assistant Director, Community Engagement -
Dr. Beverley Pitman
Senior Regional Community Developer (Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Sea to Sky) -
Indira Riadi
Regional Community Developer (Fraser Health Region) -
Sarrah Storey
Regional Community Developer (Northern BC) -
Lisa Cyr
Regional Community Developer (Interior BC) -
Cheryl Baldwin
Regional Community Developer (Central & Northern Vancouver Island) -
Laura Kadowaki
Program & Operations Coordinator -
Jean Rikhof
Technical Business Analyst -
Calum Petersen
Granting Specialist -
Esther Moreno
Capacity Building Specialist -
Amaanali Fazal
Emergency Response and Partnerships Coordinator -
Shelby Alexander
Marketing & Communications Specialist -
Mai Nguyen
Administrator -
Jessamine Liu
Administrator -
Ravi Grewal
Administrator
Healthy Aging – In The News
At Healthy Aging, we believe that sharing stories about the work that’s being done in community helps to strengthen connections.
For more information about any of these stories, please contact healthyaging@uwbc.ca.
Healthy Aging – Research & Reports
Healthy Aging relies on social research to ensure all our programs are meaningful and responsive to the needs of people as they age. We undertake our own research projects and work in collaboration with other respected researchers.
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Healthy Aging Year in Review (2023-2024)
Explore the remarkable impact United Way BC had this past year, made possible by the invaluable support from our community service providers, government funders, partners, friends, family caregivers, and dedicated volunteers. Together, we are helping seniors stay active, connected, and engaged. (For the best experience, when clicking links on the Year in Review please use CTRL + Click to open URLs in a new tab.)
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Social Prescribing Implementing Guide
United Way British Columbia (UWBC) is leading the integration of Social Prescribing within the province, adapting this internationally recognized approach to meet the unique needs of British Columbia’s communities. Initiated after extensive community consultations in 2018, UWBC’s adaptation of Social Prescribing builds on the success of the “Better at Home” program started in 2012, aimed at enhancing the independence and community engagement of older adults.
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Therapeutic Activation Program For Seniors
This handbook has been specifically crafted for Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors (TAPS) Coordinators who are pivotal in executing these invaluable programs. It serves as a comprehensive overview of program elements and functions as a foundational guide for both the Coordinators and the organizations involvedin delivering TAPS Programming within their communities.
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Handbook for Family & Friend Caregiver Support Coordinators
This handbook is crafted for Family and Friend Caregiver Support Coordinators who are pivotal in executing these invaluable programs. It serves as a comprehensive overview of program elements, and functions as a foundational training guide for both Coordinators and the organizations involved in delivering Family and Friend Care Support programming within their communities.
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2022-23 Evaluation of United Way BC’s Better at Home Program
The 2022-23 Evaluation of United Way BC’s Better at Home program includes 81 Better at Home programs that completed at least 1 year of service delivery at the start of the evaluation in April 2022, and aims to showcase the effects and changes Better at Home has had for people and communities it supports. The executive summary shares key findings, insights, recommendations, and actions areas for sustaining and improving Better at Home into the future.
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Aging in Uncertainty: The Growing Housing Crisis for BC Seniors (2023)
Imagine a life spent working hard, only to find yourself retiring in your 60s or 70s, facing the prospect of homelessness. This harsh reality is increasingly common among seniors in British Columbia, as revealed in a comprehensive 66-page report titled ‘ Aging in Uncertainty: The Growing Housing Crisis for BC Seniors.’ This report, jointly released on National Housing Day by United Way British Columbia and a coalition of BC Non-Profit community-based seniors’ organizations, spotlights the critical issue of seniors struggling to secure affordable housing in the face of soaring living costs, stagnant government retirement incomes, and a shortage of affordable housing.
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Healthy Aging Year in Review (2022-2023)
Together, we are helping seniors stay active, connected and engaged. Discover the impact United Way British Columbia had last year because of the invaluable support we received from community-based service providers, government funders, partners, friends and family caregivers, and our remarkable cohort of 5,600 volunteers. (For the best experience when clicking links on the Year in Review please use CTRL + Click to open URLs in a new tab.)
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Healthy Aging Year in Review (2021-2022)
2021-2022 reminded us that resilience can lead to monumental change and impact. We all know what a challenging year 2020 was for all of us, especially older adults in British Columbia. With the leadership role United Way British Columbia took on for Safe Seniors, Strong Communities, the expansion of the Better at Home network, and many other initiatives of the Community-Based Seniors’ Services sector, we rose to the challenge together to keep older British Columbians safe. 2021-2022 was a chance to come back – better, stronger, and united. And did we ever.
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Healthy Aging Program Brochure
The Healthy Aging program is delivered through United Way British Columbia (United Way BC), whose work is to strengthen vital connections that support people in need in local communities.
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Safe Seniors, Strong Communities (6-month Summary: March 27 to September 30, 2020).
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Healthy Aging Year in Review (2020-2021)
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Rising to the Challenge – How BC’s CBSS agencies stepped up during Covid-19
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Family & Friend Caregivers Information and Resource Handbook
Directed to family and friend caregivers, the handbook recognizes the crucial role that unpaid caregivers play in Metro Vancouver’s public health system. Just like doctors and nurses, they need comprehensive, up-to-date information in order to provide proper care to their loved ones.
Community Engagement
The Community Based Seniors’ Services (CBSS) sector is broad and diverse, and to ensure the work of Healthy Aging by United Way BC remains relevant and working toward the goals of the sector at large, a number of community accountability and task groups have been convened to guide and support the work on a variety of fronts. Collectively, these groups are working toward: supporting increased capacity and sustainability of the sector to address the growing needs of BC’s aging population; raising awareness of the breadth and value of the sector; fostering opportunities for communication, coordination, and collaboration; and developing a collective voice on healthy aging and the CBSS sector.
Provincial and Regional Consultations
Provincial Consultations serve as crucial opportunities for the exchange of innovative initiatives, strategies, and practices within the CBSS network. They play a vital role in collecting valuable information and perspectives to shape priorities and planning for programs, training, resource development, and other forms of support for the sector.
During the 2022-23 period, a significant online Provincial Consultation was organized, focusing on the topic of “Volunteer Recruitment and Retention in the CBSS Sector.” This session prominently featured presentations on innovative volunteer programs and practices. It actively involved CBSS staff and volunteers in various activities, such as sharing current effective strategies, tools, and resources utilized in volunteer recruitment and retention within the CBSS sector.
Participants engaged in meaningful discussions regarding the challenges and gaps that require attention. The consultation provided an explorative platform for generating ideas and opportunities to foster initiatives and activities aimed at bolstering and advancing volunteerism and volunteer management within CBSS organizations. Consultations aim to:
- share current resources, strategies, and programs that are making a difference in community for a particular area of priority
- identify challenges and gaps that need to be addressed
- explore opportunities for potential activities, resources, and collaboration to advance community action and effectiveness in those priority areas relevant to supporting older adults in community
Numerous regional and provincial consultations are planned for 2023-24.
Provincial Working Groups
CBSS Provincial Working Groups and Advisory Committees are actively involved in addressing priority areas identified by the CBSS Leadership Council. These priorities stem from the input gathered through Provincial Summits on Aging, Regional and Provincial Consultation feedback, and other community engagement activities. The Working Groups, which consist of representatives from the CBSS sector, are led by members of the Leadership Council who possess relevant interest and expertise in the respective topic areas.
Housing and Transportation
The Seniors Housing and Seniors Transportation Working Groups have shown significant dedication to researching and raising awareness about challenges and service gaps affecting seniors. Additionally, they have been proactive in sharing information on effective models and strategies through various means, such as webinars, presentations, Healthy Aging CORE, the biennial Summit on Aging, and Consultations.
Nutritional Supports
The Nutritional Supports Working Group’s activities concluded in early 2023. However, the resources it has developed remain available on CORE, including valuable webinars, toolkits, case studies, and a literature review.
Emergency Preparedness
More recently, an Advisory Committee has been established to address CBSS Emergency Preparedness and Response. This Committee’s primary focus will be on enhancing existing partnerships and establishing a coordinated response among agencies and government entities. This collective effort aims to provide support to older British Columbians in the event of natural disasters and/or extreme climate emergencies.
Provincial Summit on Aging
United Way BC is thrilled to announce that the upcoming Summit on Aging will take place in the fall of 2024 at the Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport in Richmond, BC.
The biennial gathering aims to facilitate discussions and collaborations on current issues and innovations in healthy aging, not only in British Columbia but also beyond its borders.
The theme for the 2022 Summit was ‘Better Together,’ emphasizing the significance of collective efforts in establishing an integrated, older person-centered model of support in the province.
Over 540 CBSS sector organizations, along with older adults, family and friend caregivers, academia, and government representatives participated in the 2022 event, both in-person and online.
We look forward to continued progress and fruitful endeavors in healthy aging.
Watch a video highlight of the 2022 Provincial Summit on Aging below:
Read the 2022 Provincial Summit on Aging Summary Report below:
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2022 Provincial Summit on Aging Summary Report
Healthy Aging Core BC
Healthy Aging CORE BC (Collaborative Online Resources and Education) is an online knowledge hub that facilitates connections among organizations supporting and promoting independent living for older British Columbians.
CORE’s primary focus lies in enhancing connections and capabilities, fostering coordination and collaboration, and bridging the gap between research and practice in the CBSS sector. This is achieved by granting convenient access to carefully curated evidence-based resources, training sessions, and other opportunities for knowledge sharing, including communities of practice and interactive group activities. CORE plays a crucial role in connecting, strengthening, and expanding the CBSS network, encompassing volunteers, staff, researchers, and allied agencies working towards supporting older adults to age in place. Through the cross-promotion of relevant organizations, events, news, and resources, and highlighting effective community programs, CORE promotes effective community programs and facilitates peer learning and partnerships.
Community agencies, partners and volunteers can access CORE BC and its wealth of resources, at bc.healthyagingcore.ca
Project Impact Healthy Aging
Due to BC’s aging population and the rising cost of living, the demand for programs and services supporting older British Columbians is higher than ever.
This increased need underscores the ongoing commitment of United Way British Columbia, the Government of British Columbia, and the Community-Based Seniors’ Services (CBSS) sector to develop and enhance community efforts to keep seniors active, connected, and engaged in their communities while aging at home.
United Way British Columbia’s developmental evaluation course, “Project Impact Healthy Aging,” plays a crucial role in this mission. Over the course of eight months, seven teams from senior-serving non-profit agencies across the province participate in this initiative. Through interviews and data analysis, these teams assess their own activities, measure successes, and identify areas for improvement, all with the goal of better serving seniors.
Every June, participating agencies present their findings at the Project Impact Healthy Aging Showcase, held at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Annex in Vancouver, BC.
Read the full 2024 impact story, entitled ‘United Way BC’s Project Impact Healthy Aging enhances seniors’ wellbeing’ here: United Way BC’s Project Impact Healthy Aging enhances seniors’ wellbeing – United Way British Columbia (uwbc.ca)
For more information contact healthyaging@uwbc.ca
Watch a video highlight from a Project Impact Healthy Aging Showcase below:
Information and Resources
CBSS Leadership Council
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Annwen Loverin
(Co-Chair)Executive Director, Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre
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Susan Scott
(Co-Chair)Councillor, City of Prince George
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Marcy Cohen
CBSS Leadership Council
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Daisy Au
Coordinator, Seniors Club, Specialized & Innovative Programs, MOSAIC
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Jane Osborne
Community Specialist in Adult Guardianship Legislation
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Louise Tremblay
Executive Director, Brella Community Services Society
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Mike Jennings
President, Men’s Shed Association of BC, President of Coquitlam Men’s Shed Society
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Sheila McDonald
Coordinator, Better at Home, Prince Rupert
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Tim Rowe
Executive Director, Northern Health Authority
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Ian Gerbrandt
Executive Director, Seniors Outreach and Resource Centre
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Jacky Leung
Program Director, Wellness and Active Communities, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. BC
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Claudine Matlo
Executive Director, West End Seniors’ Network
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Petrina Arnason
Director, Langley Seniors in Action
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Kimberly Barwich
Programs Director, Seniors’ Programs and Services, Burnaby Neighbourhood House
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Surendra Handa
Activity Coordinator, Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre
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Tanya Behardien
Executive Director, OneSky Community Resources
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Jennifer Pinsonneault
Seniors Services Coordinator, Whitevalley Community Resource Centre
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Justine Keirn
Executive Director, Valley Community Services Society
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Margaret Little
President, SONS – Save Our Northern Seniors-Fort St. John
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Bridey Morrison Morgan
Newly retired senior and resident of Victoria, BC
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Lori Nawrot
Executive Director, Hornby Denman Health
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Jennifer Van Es
Director of SHOAL Centre & Senior Services
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Surendra Kumar Handa
Coordinator of the Seniors Parivar (family) Centre of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of British Columbia
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Kylie Green
Manager, Williams Lake & District Seniors Activity Centre
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Ed Gavsie
President & CEO, Richmond Gives, Richmond Cares (RCRG)
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Joanne Haramia
Older Adult Representative, Vancouver
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David Iwaasa
Vice President & Treasurer, the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society; Past chair of the Japanese Community Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi)
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Jennifer Lazenby
BC CRN Regional Mentor Central, Northern Vancouver Island
Grants Map
Blog
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Creating intergenerational connections through School’s Out Summer
Intergenerational Summer Camp brings kids and seniors together for learning and fun.
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Better at Home – A Nanaimo Story
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Celebrating Partnership and Impact: 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy Report Highlights
Questions?
We’d love to hear from you!
Social Prescribing represents a healthcare approach that recognizes the profound impact of social and environmental factors on a person’s well-being. This approach involves connecting older adults with non-medical services and activities in their community, and they can be referred to a community-based Social Prescribing program by their primary care physician or other health practitioner.
Social Prescribing Community Connectors play a crucial role in engaging with these older adults and linking them to a wide range of local, non-clinical services provided by community agencies.
These social prescriptions can include various activities like participating in community groups, clubs, or classes, engaging in exercise sessions, joining walking groups, sports clubs, art classes, or music therapy, and exploring volunteer opportunities.
The positive effects of Social Prescribing are numerous and can lead to improved mental health, reduced social isolation, an overall enhancement in the quality of life, and decreased reliance on medical interventions.
One of the beneficiaries of this program is Bevy-Ann Hansen. In 2020, she returned to Canada after her husband’s passing, having spent two decades living in the United States.
Bevy-Ann encountered several challenges while resettling, such as having no income, social network, or suitable housing to accommodate her wheelchair disability, leaving her feeling isolated and alone, struggling with her emotions.
During her darkest moments, a ray of light appeared in the form of Trina, a Community Connector in the Social Prescribing program at Archway Community Services, which is funded by the Province of BC and administered by United Way BC.
A compassionate hospital social worker referred Bevy-Ann to the program after a fall, and Trina became her advocate. With Trina’s help, Bevy-Ann applied for government benefits, securing Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Trina’s support stabilized Bevy-Ann’s financial situation and empowered her. Bevy-Ann also received grocery deliveries through a food bank program and housekeeping services from United Way BC’s Better at Home program.
Through Archway and with Trina by her side, Bevy-Ann found a lifeline and an ally. She affirms, “Trina is the first person I come to if I am in trouble.”
There are 19 community agencies in BC that run United Way BC’s Healthy Aging Social Prescribing program, and who served 1,434 seniors in 2022-23.
Watch a video featuring a Social Prescribing program in North Vancouver!
Hear from the experts behind Social Prescribing in British Columbia