From 2015-2020, the Active Aging Grants program extended our reach to vulnerable, disadvantaged seniors who live across BC.

 

In this program, community-based organizations integrated physical and social activities – central tenets of Choose to Move – into existing programs and services to meet the specific needs of seniors.

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We offered the Active Aging Grants in partnership with the United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM), and the Active Aging Research Team to provide community grants that reach diverse communities that build capacity to promote older adult physical activity, social connectedness, independence, and health. We distributed 85 grants across British Columbia. 

For seniors, there are many benefits to participating in leisure activities that are focused on physical activity, including more opportunities to be social, increased independence, improved well-being and a higher quality of life. 

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Grant proposals provided innovative ways to support vulnerable seniors to be physically active, enable older adults' independence and enhance social connectedness. 
 

 Funded projects promote: 

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• Movement and physical activities such as the use of public transportation, gardening, hiking, walking, dancing, swimming and offer ways to reduce older adult’s sedentary behaviours such as sitting and watching TV

• Older adults’ desire to remain mobile and independent, informed and up-to-date and responsible for their personal affairs

• Social connections through social, educational and/or recreational opportunities

• Older adults’ ability to meet their physical activity goals

• The use of community resources to enrich older adults’ social and physical health

 

Reach

 

Since 2015, these grants have reached:

 

• 42 community agencies across B.C.

• 19,910 vulnerable, disadvantaged seniors including:

  • indigenous people

  • new immigrants

  • those with a mobility disability

  • those trying to manage chronic conditions in community

  • those in rural and remote regions of BC