City of Powell River Council will consider making an application for another age-friendly grant.
Speaking at the city’s committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, January 14, director of parks, recreation and culture Ray Boogaards said the seniors population, age 65 and older, sits at 27 per cent in the Powell River region, compared to 18 per cent for the remainder of the province.
He said in the past three years, the city’s department of parks, recreation and culture has received funding from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) age-friendly program. In 2017 the city received $20,000 from the grant for the completion of an age-friendly plan, which was presented to city council and approved. It included the introduction of the seniors together program, which is offered once per month and includes a workshop and lunch, and if the participants wish, the opportunity to participate in physical activity. This program is still in operation today with funding made available by the city, and it is very well attended, said Boogaards.
In 2018, the city received $15,000 and a seniors community council was established. Boogaards said the council has developed a strategic plan and is using it as a guide today.
In 2019, working with the seniors community council, the city again received $15,000 from the age-friendly program and the funding was used by the seniors community council to develop three editions of the seniors resource guide. In addition, the council worked closely with the city’s infrastructure services to look at where there was a need for bus shelters.
He said this year’s grant application was due to be submitted by Friday, January 17, so the city was close to the deadline.
“This year, the city will again be applying for $15,000,” said Boogaards. “The funding will be used to implement a new program called the Powell River health connector program. This program will identify seniors and caregivers who have been recently discharged from acute care and can be referred by family doctors. A group of volunteers will be trained to refer them to various service agencies.”
Boogaards said the second portion of the grant application will provide the seniors community council with its second health fair. The third portion will be used to send one member of the seniors council to an age-friendly conference. Boogaards said this will enable them to look at trends happening in age-friendly communities and bring that information back to the city, to look at implementing the trends.
Boogaards said a council resolution will need to accompany the grant application.
Councillor Jim Palm said he endorses this application 100 per cent.
‘”The seniors council is doing very fine work,” added Palm.
The committee will send the initiative to city council for endorsement.
