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Health and Community Services
May 4, 2011

Seniors Wellness Grants Awarded

Twelve community groups are benefiting from a Provincial Government investment of $200,000 for a variety of projects that focus on improving the well-being and overall health of seniors. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors, announced today the recipients of the 2010-11 Healthy Aging Seniors Wellness Grants Program.

“The grants being awarded to these community groups further demonstrate our government’s commitment to putting the supports in place for an aging population,” said Minister Kennedy. “It is important to acknowledge the shifting demographics in Newfoundland and Labrador. The funding provided through this program allows community groups to develop programming that will help seniors stay active and continue to contribute to their communities.”

The Healthy Aging Seniors Wellness Grants Program is a component of the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework which was launched by the Provincial Government in 2007. Organizations receiving funding include municipalities, seniors organizations, recreation committees, and other community groups whose programming benefits seniors. The program this year will focus on improved social connections, physical activity, healthy eating, falls prevention, and tobacco control. The grants awarded range from $7,000 to $25,000. Details of the grants awarded this year are listed in the backgrounder below.

“These grants help create opportunities for seniors to improve their health and wellness,” added Minister Kennedy. “Our government will continue to make the investments required to encourage healthy living in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, and especially those that keep our seniors happy, fit and active.”

The Healthy Aging Seniors Wellness Grants Program complements the Provincial Wellness Grants Program which was established in 2005 as a component of the Provincial Wellness Plan. Since then, over 170 community-based projects throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have received a total of $3.5 million. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador continued the annual investment of $4.1 million to implement the Provincial Wellness Plan.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
Seniors Wellness Grants 2010-11

Twillingate-New World Island Bus Committee
The Twillingate-New World Island Bus Committee is receiving $25,000 for the Community Wheels program. The funding will be used to hire a coordinator to conduct a number of focus groups to identify specific needs for transportation for seniors, as well as make transportation available to seniors to increase access to health and other services.

Active Living for Older Adults
Active Living for Older Adults in Robert’s Arm is receiving $23,000 to expand the physical activity program by conducting workshops to address issues such as injury prevention, mental health promotion, environmental health, and tobacco control.

Baie Verte Recreation Committee
The Baie Verte Recreation Committee is receiving $22,000 to develop a seniors network and committee to function as a medium through which information on healthy living for older adults is shared and community involvement is facilitated.

Avondale Recreation Committee
The Avondale Recreation Committee is receiving $20,000 for the Getting our Seniors Community Active project which promotes physical and mental health. The project will provide opportunities for seniors to share traditional experiences and skills such as knitting, quilting, and making other crafts, and learn new skills such as creating art and using computers to communicate and connect.

Marystown Town Council
The Marystown Town Council is receiving $20,000 for the next phase of healthy aging programming and strategic planning. The next phase will address falls prevention, explore barriers to males over the age of 50 participating in physical activity and further develop the Marystown Healthy Aging Strategic Plan.

Victoria Order of Nurses
The Victoria Order of Nurses in St. John’s is receiving $20,000 for the SMART In-Home Exercise Program. The program helps clients maintain and gain a level of independence, functional mobility and decrease their risk of disease, disability and injury due to falls by having trained volunteers show seniors a variety of gentle exercises.

George Street United Church
The George Street United Church in St. John’s is receiving $17,500 for the Feeding All to Health and Inclusion project that connects seniors with youth organizations, improves Internet access among seniors, and facilitates seniors taking part in a variety of activities. In addition, the funding will also allow for the development of a low impact fitness program.

Goulds Daffodil Seniors 50+ Club
The Goulds Daffodil Seniors 50+ Club is receiving $15,500 for an outreach program that offers sessions and courses to seniors in Goulds, Petty Harbour and Bay Bulls about healthy eating, mental health, personal and environmental safety and injury prevention.

Sop’s Arm Healthy Living Group
The Sop’s Arm Healthy Living Group is receiving $10,000 for the intergenerational wellness program Healthy Living is Good Living that encourages a healthy lifestyle by establishing partnerships with local schools to provide varied opportunities for seniors to interact with youth.

The Town of St. Lunaire-Griquet
The Town of St. Lunaire-Griquet is receiving $10,000 for the Walk 2 Wellness/Fit 4 Life program. The program focuses on getting seniors active and highlights the importance of physical activity in healthy aging.

Town of Channel-Port aux Basques
The Town of Channel-Port aux Basques is receiving $10,000 for the program Moving Forward Embracing a Healthy Aging Population that consists of intergenerational activities with the goal of increasing physical activity, health, and awareness of seniors in the community.

The Leisure Club of Port au Port West
The Leisure Club of Port au Port West is receiving $7,000 for their Seniors on the Move program that promotes social inclusion and activity for mental and physical health. The program will highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle in healthy aging by offering programs in exercise, music and dance, and improving access to these programs.

2011 05 04                                                                   4:05 p.m.

 
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