Communities and Seniors' Organizations Continue to Benefit
from Age-Friendly Grants

Communities and seniors' organizations throughout the province are benefiting from the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador (AFNL) Grants program, which supports municipalities, Inuit community governments, reserves and seniors' organizations with creating age-friendly communities. The latest grant recipients are the Town of Pouch Cove and the Mount Pearl Seniors Independence Group.

"Our government is pleased to support seniors' programs and services designed to improve accessibility and encourage self-respect," said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors. "These grants will help seniors gain a higher level of independence and self-reliance."

The Town of Pouch Cove will receive $10,000 to support being an age-friendly community. It will engage in activities that include forming an age-friendly committee or team; evaluating community resources and assets; identifying community champions; determining challenges and opportunities; and, creating an action plan.

"Supporting our municipalities in enhancing their seniors' programming and services is an important step in encouraging independence and self-reliance among our older population," said Kevin Parsons, MHA for Cape St. Francis. "I am proud to be part of a government that recognizes the importance of and value in creating an age-friendly environment for this very important segment of our society."

The Mount Pearl Seniors Independence Group will receive $4,500 to address seniors' injury prevention and to enhance its very successful Snowbusters Program, which provides support for snow clearing to ensure the steps, driveways and pathways of seniors' homes are cleared for safe walking. The Mount Pearl Seniors Independence group is a community-based organization, established to advocate, plan and promote the independence, dignity, health, and well being of seniors.

"I am delighted that our government is providing grant funding to the Mount Pearl Seniors Independence Group," said the Honourable Dave Denine, MHA for Mount Pearl South. "It is an excellent example of an age-friendly community organization that is doing tremendous work and is making a positive impact in our community."

Overall, the Williams Government will invest $200,000 in the AFNL Grants program. The grants will serve, in part, to fulfill commitments made under the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework, through which the Provincial Government invested an additional $3.5 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year toward improving the wellness of residents.

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2010 05 17                                                    9:45 a.m.