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Volume 18, No. 5, June 2022
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COMMUNITY LINKS UPDATES
AGM 2022
Big thanks to Dr. Michael Ungar for his presentation on resilience and the 12 factors which impact it at the individual and community level.
Thanks also to all who attended – your contributions to the discussion following Dr. Ungar’s presentation were rich and thought-provoking.
“We all play a role in each other’s resilience. A community that supports its seniors makes itself stronger too.” – Dr. Michael Ungar
Find out more about Dr. Michael Ungar and his work at https://www.michaelungar.com/
Congratulations to President Madeleine Dillon, Vice-president Eleanor Gallant, Secretary Jim Vance and Treasurer Paul Rowe, Community Links’ 2022-2023 Board executive. We’ve got a busy year ahead.
Many thanks to now Past-president P. Earl Muise and retired Board member/ Vice-president Dolly Williams. Your guidance was invaluable, your service and care for the wellbeing of older Nova Scotians inspirational.
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Findings of our photo-voice project are ready to share
Check out the colourful publication Age Friendly in Focus: Understanding access and inclusion for older adults in the built environment.
The publication reflects research done with older adults 65+ in Nova Scotia, Community Links and the PEACH Research Unit at Dalhousie University.
View Age Friendly in Focus: Understanding access and inclusion for older adults in the built environment on our website.
Visit https://nscommunitylinks.ca/age-friendly-in-focus/ for more information or to learn more about the history of the project.
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ONLINE RESOURCES
Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia (IONS) announced the release of its 2022 State of the Sector Report, an interactive Sector Data Dashboard, and the first digital Sector Network Map.
These resources are now available on IONS’s website. The dashboard offers visual insights and trends across sub-sectors and the map provides organizational activity by geographic area.
Engage Nova Scotia launched a wellbeing mapping tool to visualize the NS Quality of Life Survey results.
The survey results represent the single largest dataset in North America about quality of life, marking a breakthrough in terms of making wellbeing data available to Nova Scotians.
The tool can be used to create maps and graphs of what matters at neighborhood, community, and regional scales. Read and listen to CBC's coverage of the wellbeing mapping tool here.
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PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is working with the newly appointed Federal Housing Advocate to create a joint approach to monitoring the areas where disability rights found in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities meet the right to housing.
Federal Housing Advocate, Marie-Josée Houle, has launched an online tool to receive submissions on systemic housing issues and unmet housing needs across Canada. https://www.housingchrc.ca/en/housing-submission
The tool asks a series of questions about experiences with inadequate housing or homelessness and provides an opportunity to share how these issues should be resolved.
Submissions can be made by individuals, or on behalf of someone, and by organizations.
The Advocate will use the information to make recommendations and help inform the monitoring plan for the right to housing and the rights of people with disabilities.
Please direct questions to FHAsubmission-DFLsoumission@chrc-ccdp.gc.ca.
Nova Scotia Accessibility Act Review
An independent review team headed by disability and seniors care scholar Dr. Katie Aubrecht has been selected by the provincial government to conduct a review of the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act.
The team is conducting outreach to discover what Nova Scotians know and think about the Act and progress on work to make the province accessible since the legislation’s proclamation in 2017.
Perspectives of older persons and senior-supporting organizations and their clientele are being sought. Participate via confidential interview or small group discussion; anonymous survey; and/or submit comments directly by email or through the review website. Accessible formats are available.
Survey: https://stfx.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bQ9EA0zM7p5fIRE;Website: https://nsaccessreview.ca/ Email: nsreview@stfx.ca
Consultations are taking place until July 8th. Information collected will be summarized and shared in a report with recommendations to the Minister of Justice.
Pride/Swell: An Art and Archiving Project with 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth & Elders in Atlantic Canada
What? Monthly art packages, prompts, instructional content, and online meet-ups. Aiming to have 20 participants from each Atlantic province, 10 in the youth category (15-25) and 10 in the Elder category (undefined).
Why? Building community, having fun, and using art to highlight social and political issues facing 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth & Elders in Atlantic Canada.
When? Summer 2022-Winter/Spring 2023.
Where? Online meet-ups (via Zoom) with optional in-person meet-ups in Fredericton (New Brunswick).
How? Participants will receive packages of materials in the mail related to prompts and will be sent instructional content via email.
Registration is free and engaging with the materials, prompts, or online meetups is optional.
Participants can manage their own participation based on what feels comfortable and will have a team of educators and artists available for technical and art making support.
Anyone interested in registering or learning please contact: casey.burkholder@unb.ca
To see more, visit https://www.prideswell.org/
Caregivers Nova Scotia is holding a Caregiver Stress Management Workshop Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, at the Whitney Pier Seniors Club, 50 Breton St, Sydney.
This popular workshop looks at the causes and symptoms of stress and provides helpful tools and interactive worksheets, to help caregivers recognize and manage stress. This is a free workshop but seating is limited.
To register please call Maggie Roach-Ganaway at 902.371.3883 or email CapeBreton@CaregiversNS.org by Monday, July 11th.
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FUNDING PROGRAMS
Federal Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera announced the launch of Age Well at Home June 8, an initiative designed to help seniors stay in their homes for as long as possible by providing practical assistance for everyday tasks. $90 million in funding will be invested over four fiscal years, starting in 2022–23. Organizations can apply for funding for projects under two streams: In-Home Support Pilot Projects and Scaling Up for Seniors.
The In-Home Support Pilot Projects stream funds eligible organizations across Canada that have experience delivering one or more specific volunteer-based service to seniors. Organizations need to provide at least one of the eligible practical support services to low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors in a local area, as well as help seniors navigate and access eligible services provided by other local organizations.
The Scaling Up for Seniors stream provides funds to eligible organizations to expand services that have already demonstrated results in helping older adults age in place. Applications must propose to deliver services in more than one province or territory. However, Indigenous governments and organizations located in Quebec can choose whether to propose to scale up within a single province or territory or scale up within more than one.
Organizations are invited to apply for the In-Home Support Pilot Projects stream and the Scaling Up for Seniors stream of the Age Well at Home initiative until July 22, 2022.
The TD Ready Commitment Program offers grants to eligible organizations to support programs that align with one of the four drivers of the TD Ready Commitment: Financial Security,Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities or Better Health.
If applying for programming that takes place in the Winter or Spring of 2023 (including Black History Month, Lunar New Year or Asian Heritage Month), apply by July 4, 2022 .
If applying for programming that will take place in Summer of 2023 (including Pride and National Indigenous Month), apply by October 3, 2022.
Submit your grant application online by 11:59 pm EST on July 4, 2022 through the TD Ready Commitment website.
Nova Scotia Community Health Board Wellness Fund Grants now open
Find full application information and online application here https://www.communityhealthboards.ns.ca/wellness-funds. Deadline to apply is Friday October 14, 2022 at 5 pm.
Applications for the Property Tax Rebate for Seniors, which helps low-income seniors with their municipal residential property taxes, open Friday, July 1. The program offers eligible seniors a rebate of half of their property taxes, up to $800.
To qualify for the rebate, seniors need to meet eligibility criteria, including:
-- 2021 municipal residential property taxes are paid in full
-- their name is included on the property taxes
-- they receive or are eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or Guaranteed Income Supplement - Allowance from Service Canada.
Applications are open from July 1 to December 31, 2022. Applicants who received the rebate last year will receive an application by mail.
This year, applicants will also be able to apply for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program on the Property Tax Rebate for Seniors application.
For more informaton visit Property Tax Rebate for Seniors: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-property-tax-rebate-property-tax-rebate-seniors
Heating Assistance Rebate Program: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-heating-assistance-rebate-heating-assistance-rebate-program
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COVID-19 UPDATES
Second Booster Dose
Starting in July adults 50 to 69 years of age in Nova Scotia will be eligible to book a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though public health is recommending that people wait until Fall when rates of the illness are expected to be on the rise.
For more information and the full news release https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20220627005
To book your COVID Vaccine or Booster visit https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/book-your-vaccination-appointment/
The Government of Canada released a report on Social Isolation Among Older Adults During the Pandemic. The report is available online here (attached in French and English):
Stay up to date with Federal and Nova Scotian information and updates on COVID-19 and please, wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay safe.
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