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PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH SENIORS YOU can help offer diverse & inclusive activities foster action to combat stigma adapt programs to be inclusive & supportive align policies & technologies for more opportunities increase transportation access If you are a professional involved in administering programs or providing direct personal care for people experiencing cognitive decline, your role is critical in fostering their inclusion in activities. You facilitate providing diverse opportunities so everyone can remain meaningfully engaged in community life and no one gets excluded. ​ Hub Partners would like to hear from you! Visit the Current Hub Partner Projects page to see which project is most attractive and contact the Partner sponsoring it.

Westside Seniors Hub Nuestra Organización Iniciar sesión HUB WESTSIDE SENIORS ACCIÓN COLECTIVA POR Y PARA MAYORES Fireweed symbolizes the resilience that Dementia Ventures envisions bringing to people living with dementia and their care partners. This feisty wildflower thrives in challenging conditions and brings vibrant colour to diverse landscapes year after year.We are grateful that Yukon photographer Ivan Sundby has donated this High Weed image to Dementia Ventures. Like so many, Ivan’s family has been affected by dementia. HUB WESTSIDE SENIORS ACCIÓN COLECTIVA POR Y PARA MAYORES El Westside Seniors Hub es una iniciativa que reúne a personas mayores locales y organizaciones que prestan servicios a personas mayores para garantizar que las comunidades de Westside sean lugares donde las personas mayores puedan prosperar. Sirve para proporcionar un "centro" informativo que mejora el conocimiento de los programas y servicios locales. Proporciona liderazgo en la identificación de brechas en la prestación de servicios y genera apoyo comunitario para los problemas de las personas mayores. More About Us Get Involved Current Hub Partner Projects

DEMENTIA VENTURES GUIDES FOR INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING CLICK in the links below REAWAKENING THE MIND (Arts 4 Dementia, London, UK) ​ “Arts interventions to re-energise and inspire people in the early stages of dementia and their carers.” The A4D model for music, dance, drama, poetry, museums & galleries with evaluation of impacts and outcomes for organizers, volunteers, arts facilitators & arts organizations. SHARING MEMORIES: REMINISCENCE ACTIVITIES (Lee County Library System, Florida) ​ Programs that find meaning in memories, storytelling, letter writing, community conversations and tips for success in engagement. HOW-TO GUIDES FOR WALKING GROUPS AND CAFÉS (Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative) ​ “Steps involved in planning, marketing, launching and sustaining a program…based on the experience of staff, volunteers and participants in local groups.” COMMUNITY-ENGAGED ARTS PRACTICE WITH SENIORS: A STARTUP GUIDE (Arts and Health, Canada) ​ “Community-engaged arts programs promote the health, well-being and social inclusion of older adults…address the gap between the existing supports available for well seniors in recreation facilities and those for very frail seniors…provide a forum for exploration, imagination, and communication that can transform individual lives and profoundly impact community life.” DEMENTIA PROGRAMS ( Research Institute for Aging ) ​ "Evidence-based programs and support strategies to improve the care and quality of life for those impacted by dementia." Brings together descriptions of diverse Canadian projects. SOCIAL ISOLATION OF SENIORS: IDEAS EXCHANGE EVENT TOOLKIT “Toolkit is meant to help people and organizations host effective meetings to exchange ideas and respond to the social isolation of seniors in their communities. It contains tools, templates and support resources for hosting an ideas exchange event.” Back to Resources - Dementia Ventures

RESOURCES The Hub encourages everyone to know about Help Lines that provide credible information to callers with questions and concerns. Help Lines DEMENTIA VENTURES RESOURCES We also provide selected resources here for Dementia Ventures , since that is the Hub's focus in 2020-2023. Understanding & living with dementia Guides for inclusive Programming Tools for Engagement Research Reports & Data

Please fill up the form below or send us an email to info@westsideseniorshub.org First Name Email Last Name Phone Message Submit Disclaimer: Personal contact information (name, phone number, email address) will only be retained long enough to reply to a query and receive confirmation from the sender that a reply to their query or comment has been received. CONTACT US ​

DEMENTIA VENTURES ​ TOOLS FOR ENGAGEMENT ​ ​ ¿QUÉ CONSTITUYE EL LADO OESTE? Definimos el área de influencia del Westside Seniors Hub como: Al oeste de Ontario Street, hasta el final para incluir UBC y Endowment Lands Al sur de Cornwall Street y False Creek Al norte de Marine Drive Tenga en cuenta que el área de influencia no incluye la península del centro ni la isla Granville. Los socios cuya oficina se encuentra fuera de nuestra área de influencia pueden unirse a nosotros si están sirviendo activamente a las personas mayores de Westside. WHAT IS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN FOSTERING RESILIENCE? ​ Dementia Ventures aims to reach a broad range of stakeholders and provide community organizations with tools to engage effectively with people experiencing cognitive challenges. Let’s give them more opportunities! And how? Let the voices and experience of loved ones living with dementia inform the planning of meaningful activities that bring joy to everyone involved! You will find some amazing tools below to help you engage and make a difference. Powerful Words & Approaches Concise Rationales for Change Meaningful Engagement Top of Tools for Engagement Concise rationales POWERFUL WORDS & APPROACHES CONCISE RATIONALES FOR CHANGE Practice Tools & Factsheets (I-CAARE) A Quick Guide To: Approaches ; PIECES of My Relationships (Guidelines, Questions, Family Supplement); Medicine Wheel: Preventing Dementia in Indigenous People by Aging Well ; The Pathway of Dementia Person-centered Language Guidelines Alzheimer Society of Canada “By being more conscious of the language we use, we can avoid reducing individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to a series of labels, symptoms or medical terms.” Dementia & Language Dementia Alliance International Organizational philosophy:”Nothing about us, without us.” Approach conversations with and about people living with dementia using respectful language that does not stigmatize and demean. Media should reflect DAI's Core Beliefs. Why Arts-based Activities? Westside Seniors Hub, Vancouver, BC Rationale for social engagement through the arts, credible evidence, and links to model programs that demonstrate how arts-based creative activities can have profound impacts on people at every stage of the dementia trajectory. Flipping Stigma on Its Ear Toolkit Taking Action Against Stigma and Discrimination Associated With Dementia University of British Columbia, CIHR Action Research Project “The purpose of this toolkit is to recognize and respond to this stigma and discrimination…designed by people with dementia to help others – including other people living with dementia, service providers, physicians, family members and friends – to address the challenges of stigma and discrimination.” Hear from the experts who live with dementia – what they experience, how they respond to stigma and discrimination as advocates for themselves and others, how they build skills and competence. Powerful tools from people living with dementia with more being developed for support persons and researchers. What is the Building Capacity Project all about? Westside Seniors Hub, Vancouver, BC Meaningful Engagement MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT Tipsheet for accessibility & equity in online engagement MJ Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU, Burnaby, BC “It is important to consider how community members’ identities and experiences may impact their ability to learn about, access or participate safely in an engagement—and tailor plans to suit diverse needs.” Beyond Inclusion: Equity in Public Engagement MJ Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU, Burnaby, BC “Hearing from people with diverse lived experiences leads to more innovative ideas, better decisions, greater public support of outcomes…This guide is designed for individuals sponsoring or planning public engagement initiatives that will inform decision-making...outlines some factors practitioners can reflect on when scoping and designing engagement processes.” Healthy Community Engagement Action Guide PlanH, BC Healthy Communities Featuring community examples, resources, strategies and other useful information, this guide helps local governments plan their community input process to ensure…equity-centred, inclusive community engagement…to create healthier, more accessible communities. Making Your Workplace Dementia Friendly Alzheimer Society of BC Specific resources for professionals who are in legal, financial, housing, and recreation professions … ”to understand and recognize the signs of dementia…communicate in an effective, respectful way…think about specific ways they can support a person with dementia in their work and how their workplace may become more dementia friendly.…know what resources are available to them and their customers or clients.” Busting Dementia Stigma: One Children's Book at a Time WA Dementia Action Collaborative “Are you a parent, teacher or librarian who wants to help build dementia awareness and challenge stigma? Children’s books can be a great tool! The criteria below can help you evaluate children’s books and select ones that carry a respectful, stigma-busting message.” Back to Resources - Dementia Ventures

PERSON LIVING WITH DEMENTIA You are invited to help: suggest & plan appealing activity options shape what ongoing social citizenship looks like build new attitudes within your community sustain your quality of life Hub Partners need to hear from you! Please: visit the Current Hub Partner Projects page to see which project is most attractive and contact the Partner sponsoring it.

Events - Return to top SOUND BYTES SERIES Return to top Hub Community Action That Builds Capacity The Dementia Ventures project empowers Hub Partners to build out inclusive community programming for all and adapt to include people living with dementia. They and their care partners want to remain socially engaged in meaningful activities. A collaboration with UBC’s Dr. Alison Phinney and her Building Capacity team offers financial, strategic and logistical resources so programs can welcome and support those with dementia and their care partners. We celebrated midway in this initiative with a series of vibrant online community dialogues. The theme was: “What it means to be an accepting and inclusive community.” SoundBytes wants to share wisdom from those dialogues. Here are our first nuggets. There will be many more! BC-based artist and advocate Granville Johnson spoke out about fear and the power of our perspective on Dementia Dialogue's most recent podcast episode, addressing the ways we can choose to gain some sense of control and joy back into our lives even in the face of new challenges. Watch Full Event HERE PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING In the most recent podcast episode of Dementia Dialogue, Dr. Alison Phinney discusses the stigma attached to dementia diagnoses and how that impacts community support efforts. She speaks with host Lisa Loiselle and fellow podcast guest Granville Johnson, who lives with dementia himself, about the important balance to be struck between training and education on one hand, and engaging with people with lived experience on the other. The Biggest Challenge to Community Support for People Living with Dementia Watch Full Event HERE WHAT HOLDS US BACK Karen Rolston’s mother Louise started getting inklings something was a little “off” back in 2011. At the time, the Rolstons were already in the process of creating a laneway house on their property for her, so they could live close together. The timing worked out well. Louise lived there for seven years beside her daughter Karen, Karen’s husband, and their daughter. Those years were, “a beautiful opportunity for us to just wrap mom with more support and care while she was able to live in her own space,” Karen said. ​ When Karen thinks about the journey she has been on with her mom, and the reactions from people when it comes to dementia, the word that comes to mind is fear. “People find out someone has dementia, and they think, ‘Am I going to receive this diagnosis too?’ ‘Is someone I love going to get dementia?’” Rolston said. Fear seeps in and too often, people pull away. ​ “People often don’t know what to say or do, so they turn away from those with dementia instead of turning toward them with love,” Rolston said. Rolston is extremely grateful for community supports. Her mom really enjoyed the Alzheimer Society’s Minds in Motion program, the Alzheimer’s Café and the Helena choir she joined. “These community groups are where we felt really held,” she said. “It’s such a painful journey and there is still so much we can do.” ​ In this Soundbyte, Rolston offers her thoughts on how to really tune into a person’s needs and meet them where they are, rather than seeing their responses as resistance or defiance. Loving and showing up for someone with dementia is about cherishing the now, embracing their world, and accepting what is. ​ TURNING TOWARDS THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA A care partners perspective on what helps. Watch Full Event HERE Esteemed Globe and Mail Columnist André Picard wrote Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada’s Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic in 2021, a book that discusses what needs to change to shift the culture of long-term care across our country. “Picard reveals the full extent of the crisis in eldercare and offers an urgently needed prescription to fix a broken system and ensure long-term care homes are not warehouses of isolation and neglect” Penguin Random House states on their site. Care home COVID outbreaks seemed to be exploding in every region of the country at the time, drawing attention to the deplorable working conditions they had for employees, the resulting neglect residents experienced, and the total lack of support for the institutions in general. In this storyboard, Picard says media needs to highlight not just worst-case scenarios meant to shock and awe, but stories about people living quite well for a long time with dementia. Seeing more people with dementia in our day-to-day activities—including in the news— would normalize that experience as a way of reducing stigma. Lastly, he emphasized the importance of having people with dementia sit on boards and committees on which they get a real vote in the outcomes of important decisions. ANDRÉ PICARD ON THE MEDIA'S ROLE IN STAMPING OUT STIGMA Watch Full Event HERE Rob Dramer and Lilllian Ireland are self-identified elders who work with the Suzuki foundation mentoring and supporting other elders and younger generations in dialogue and action on environmental issues. They're also traveling performers who offer a multi-sensory show featuring songs they've written about biodiversity, interspersed with some familiar tunes to help audiences tap into earlier memories. Music elicits powerful connections, and they invite audience members to join in the fun alongside them and their collection of beautiful local animal puppets. On the value of art in supporting the dementia journey... Watch Full Event HERE SUZUKI ELDERS Myrna Norman is an author, artist, and dementia advocate based in Maple Ridge. In 2009, when Norman was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia and given eight years to live, she went home ready to die. But after grieving this news for a couple of weeks, Norman decided to do what she’s best at: advocating for change. She became heavily involved in initiatives that let others in her situation know they weren’t alone. Thirteen years later, Norman’s passion, generosity of spirit, and charisma have touched so many lives. Her book, “Dementia Strategies, Tips and Personal Stories,” has become an indispensable voice of validation and support. ​ Norman has participated in multi-year research studies, art-making groups and task forces including The Dementia Sisterhood, the Dementia Action Committee, Dementia Advocacy Canada, the Dementia Friendly Task Force, and now the Building Capacity Project to name just a few. She’s also collaborating with researchers and designers at Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab to develop a series of workbooks geared at supporting researchers to engage in collaborative work with people with lived experience. And to all these roles, she brings her signature energy, compassion, and love for showing people their strength. On the value of art in supporting the dementia journey... Watch Full Event HERE POETRY A dedicated group of congregation members at Pacific Spirit United Church worked together over the course of a year to create an incredible and insightful four-part series on dementia that you can access online.​ ​ They had noticed church members struggling with cognitive decline and family members worried about finding extra care, so they dove in to offer support. Their commitment to fostering a dementia friendly culture at their church has since inspired many other groups to take action too. ​ For more details go to www.pacificspiritc.com and click on "ministries". The series is under "Beacon *shinning light on dementia." ​ BEACON *Shining Light on Dementia An Initiative to build an inclusive congregation at Pacific Spirit United Church. Summary HERE Watch Full Event HERE The Flipping Stigma Toolkit is a project where a group of people diagnosed with dementia partnered with a research team to develop an online toolkit. ​ This Action Group, funded by a research grant from the Canadian Institute of Health and Research, co-designed the toolkit to help people with dementia recognize and respond to stigma and discrimination -and to help others better understand ho to be supportive-. ​ The Goa? Flip that fear on its ear. ​ To learn more visit www.flippingstigma.com LET´S TALK ABOUT DEMENTIA THE FLIPPING STIGMA TOOLKIT An Action Group of people living with dementia came together and developed a toolkit to start a conversation about stigma and discrimination in dementia. Watch Full Event HERE Granville Johnson is an artist and teacher whose advocacy work is always led by his passion for lifting people up. In this piece, he talks about the ways his art and his lived experience inform each other. ​ He sees dementia as an opportunity for insight. “Dementia gives you a chance to express your inner self, the good, the bad and the ugly. And in that expression, there are opportunities to grow.” ​ He focuses on what he can do, rather than what he can’t. He believes the more society can get behind the idea of championing strengths rather than focusing on deficits, the stronger our community will become. Johnson lives in a remote part of Northern British Columbia and thrives in its natural beauty. ​ NEW PERSPECTIVES Shifting the conversation on dementia involves recognizing its gifts. Watch Full Event HERE Researchers and designers at Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab use participatory design methods to catalyze, support and amplify initiatives addressing complex health challenges like dementia. “We use design methods to help engage people with dementia in initiatives that directly impact their lives,” said Lab Director Caylee Raber. The team’s current project is called Collaborate, Gather, Share—a workbook series co-designed by people with lived experience to help drive reflection around how they can be brought into research projects and how best to support those collaborations, recognizing people with dementia as experts. ​ Their recent video, “Perspectives,” paired design students with long-term care residents. They co-designed and co-wrote mini publications featuring residents’ stories. Students developed creative games and activities to help draw out residents’ stories that they then captured in zines and mini-books, some even embroidered on quilts. ​ Lastly, the team worked with Vancouver Coastal Health for four years on a project focused on shifting the culture of care in long-term facilities. All the Lab’s work focuses on how researchers and designers can use their skills and expertise to build upon work already being done—facilitating creative expression and self advocacy for people with dementia and getting those messages out to the world. ​ EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY´S HEALTH DESIGN LAB Emily Carr University's Health Design Lab employs participatory methods to lift up the perspectives of people with lived experience. Watch Full Event HERE Author, artist, and dementia advocate Myrna Norman runs a peer support group for others with dementia in her lower mainland community called the Purple Angels Memory Café. The group meets four times a month, and sometimes outdoors in summer when the weather is beautiful. Every second week, it’s the Army and Navy Club for a beer and live music. Members take turns bringing refreshments and treats and have fundraised up to $300 to put towards games and activities they can play together. The group is a wonderful way to connect with others, share similar experiences, and gain support and a powerful sense of belonging. The best part? Membership is free. “The gift [members] give to me is so much more than could ever be paid,” said Norman. ​ One new member who joined a couple of weeks ago turned to Myrna as he was leaving the Army and Navy Club and said, “Myrna, I feel different now. The music touched something inside of me.” ​ “I still get the shivers thinking about it,” Norman said of the comment. It’s revelations like this one that drew her to this work. ​ For more information or to check out the Purple Angels sometime, email Myrna Norman at: the.normans@shaw.ca REPRESENTATION MATTERS The power of seeing our experiences in the stories of others. Watch Full Event HERE Reverend Deborah Liang has been a minister in the United Church of Canada for 37 years, the last four at Pacific Spirit Kerrisdale. She's seen how good communities gather around people in both their joys and troubles, contributing immensely to their quality of life. She also served as chaplain at a rural hospital and learned so much from nurses and program staff there about support, respect and care for people with dementia. Shared values and perspectives. Watch Full Event HERE THE POWER OF SUPPORT FROM OUR FAITH & CULTURE GROUPS One Vancouver man who has been advocating for the treatment and care of people with dementia ever since his dementia diagnosis over a decade ago, discusses how dementia is viewed through various cultural lenses. He explains how those lenses affect families' and individual's responses to diagnosis and decisions around treatment. Watch Full Event HERE RESPONDING TO DEMENTIA THROUGH A CROSS-CULTURAL LENS BC artist and dementia advocate Granville Johnson talks about the importance of trusting one's sense of self above all else when living with dementia. "The world might not know we're capable, but we can know it and live it and continue to pursue our dreams." Johnson lives in remote part of British Columbia where he's currently working on a novel. Watch Full Event HERE TRUSTING OUR SENSE OF SELF ABOVE ALL ELSE When Lester was first diagnosed with dementia, he and his wife and care partner Cindy found that some of their friends and family reacted with disbelief. Others weren't sure how to talk to him. Sharing the Flipping Stigma toolkit with their church and social communities gave the couple a chance to contextualize dementia for those who didn't know much about it. The toolkit allayed fears, provided reassurance, and ultimately resulted in Lester AND Cindy feeling they could open up more about his diagnosis, feel less shame, and share more of their journey with the people they cared about. The toolkit helped them feel much more deeply understood. Watch Full Event HERE ON BRAVERY AND THE POWER OF SHARING OUR STORY Bill Heibein continues to live on the farm he shared with his late wife Heather just outside Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. When he was diagnosed with dementia in 2000, doctors told him he'd have about five more years to live "usefully". Twenty-two years later, he has proven them wrong. In addition to caring for his horses, Bill volunteers as an advocate with the Northwest Dementia Working Group, helps run Dementia Cafes in the community, and is passionate about encouraging others with lived experience to get involved, advocate for themselves, and find purpose. Bill says it's that deep sense of purpose that's fuelled his ability to thrive with dementia for so long, and he's confident others can do the same. Bill Heibein's Journey with Dementia Watch Full Event HERE HOW FOCUSING ON A PURPOSE BUILDS RESILIENCE When COVID-19 threatened to halt all their efforts in their tracks, Andrea Sara and her team found was to move online, gather virtually, solve problems, and dream big anyway. They worried for seniors who'd been hit particularly hard by increased isolation and wanted to ensure everyone in their community felt seen and supported. So, they went outside. They sought out "soothing spaces" where they could "feel safe socializing". That's how the Fireweed Club came to be. These days the DRA has its hand in so many wonderful initiatives, all which support inclusion, environmental awareness, and social engagement. A community works together to be more inclusive. Watch Full Event HERE MAPPING DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY CULTURE Dementia Educator and community advocate Helen Murphy has dedicated her career to making the North Shore and surrounding communities more dementia-friendly. She provides training for North Shore organizations, speaks to community groups, and volunteers in developing new programs and opportunities for people with dementia to live better lives in a community that is "wise, inclusive and socially integrated". Watch Full Event HERE ON THE VALUE OF INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION The Building Capacity Project team in Thunder Bay, Ontario partners with the Northwest Dementia Working Group on a number of fantastic community initiatives. The team is very grateful to the NWDWG members who have volunteered to help run some of their Dementia Cafes over the years, for instance, as these cafes are a great opportunity for people in the community to witness for themselves how important representation is, how much capacity there is among people with lived experience, and to be a apart of breaking down stigma. THE NEED FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN ADVOCACY ROLES Lynn Jackson is an action group member with lived experience who played a key role in developing the Flipping Stigma Toolkit, a new online resource helping educate caregivers, people with lived experience, researchers, and the public at large about how to respond to stigma around dementia. Jackson talks about how important it is for care partners to empower people with dementia to stay engaged and active. Fostering autonomy while supporting someone with dementia works to maintain their sense of personhood. Treating them like they're sick makes them feel that way. Watch Full Event HERE CARE PARTNERS EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA Dr. Elaine Wiersma of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University talks about the need to amplify a wider cross section of voices when it comes to the lived experience of people with dementia. If our exposure of these experiences stays too narrow, we run the risk of silencing important wisdoms, staying uninformed as to the broad range of experiences, and keeping devastating stigmas alive. AMPLIFYING DIVERSE VOICES: THE VALUE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE Art is a powerful vehicle for shifting perceptions and shaping culture. AND it's one way of letting your voice be heard when the words themselves might be too hard to say. Whether it's a poem, a collage, a painting, or a dance, the arts can be incredibly helpful and moving for people with dementia at all stages of their journey, and can help the public gain insight into their experience. ART AS A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE

Grant Opportunities - Top of page GRANT OPPORTUNITIES MEN'S SHEDS START-UP GRANTS United Way & Men’s Sheds of BC “Men’s Sheds improves men's health and wellbeing by: Creating spaces where men help men while working shoulder-to-shoulder Increasing men’s social connections, and sense of well-being and inclusion Increasing men's participation and engagement in their communities Start-up Grants are available to groups of two or more men or to community organizations interested in starting a Men’s Shed in their B.C. community and who have contacted MSABC to learn about effective approaches to developing and sustaining a Men’s Shed. If an organization is starting a Men's Shed but does not require a Start-up Grant, they can apply for the larger Project Grant (of up to $10,000) once available.” ​ Call for proposal, application and information here Call opened July 2021 and is still open in 2023. PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH (PAR) GRANTS Vancouver Foundation Grants support research that is co-led by community members and researchers to learn more about the root causes of pressing issues impacting the health of communities PAR Convene grants for one year starting in May 2023 are for developing a PAR project plan. PAR Investigation grants for up to three years starting in June are for investigating the root cause(s) of a pressing issue impacting the health of communities. No matching funds are required for 2023 grants. Accepting applications up until February 13, 2023 More information here COMMUNITY SERVICES RECOVERY FUND Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada & United Way Centraide $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery. There are three funding streams , each with a different focus. Three funders are accepting and administering applications for a single stream, so there’s a decision tree here to find out where your organization and project fit into a funding stream. Application deadline for all three streams: February 21, 2023 5:00pm PST In BC, United Way BC is administering the project focus area: Investing in Program and Service Innovation and Redesign . Information here Webinar here In BC, Vancouver Foundation is administering the project focus area: Investing in Systems and Processes Information here Canadian Red Cross is administering the project focus area: Investing in People Apply here CATALYST FUNDING PROGRAM IN HEALTHY AGING AGE-WELL and Canadian Frailty Network “One-year research projects with a focus on technology-enabled solutions or novel technologies that support healthy aging…may consider complementary social and healthcare innovations (e.g., new community programs, new service-delivery models, policy recommendations, and prevention strategies) related to the technology-enabled solution.” Projects for April 2023-March 2024 Applications accepted until February 24, 2023 Information here ​ 2023 NEIGHBOURHOOD SMALL GRANTS Vancouver Foundation and Partner organizations These grants help residents of any age, experience or background take part in building community. There are three funding streams: Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) , Youth NSG , and Greenest City Grants (GCG). Each grant offers up to $500 to bring projects to life and make communities safer, stronger and more welcoming. Partner organizations in communities throughout the province offer opportunities to apply for grants. In Metro Vancouver, find your community here . Timing for accepting applications may differ among communities. West Side Vancouver applications open March 7, 2023 and will be accepted and reviewed by a volunteer Neighbourhood Grants Committee on a rolling basis. SENIORS CAN! (AINÉS DEBOUT!) HelpAge Canada Three types of grants, each up to $10,000, Well-Being, Innovative Programming, Emergency Relief “designed to help low-income seniors across Canada avoid isolation and loneliness and to engage more fully with their communities. ​ Applications accepted any time but closing date for review: March 31st ​ Information & application here EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE United Way of BC ​ Join a CORE Healthy Aging group and apply for up to $25,000 to support “creating protocols for identifying, locating, and supporting vulnerable seniors before, during, and after impending crises in ways that respect and address privacy concerns… sharing best practices, training and mentoring to facilitate relationship building between the CBSS sector, other emergency response organizations, and local government emergency preparedness staff…The United Way will support projects that: demonstrate collaboration with community partners, respond to an immediate need related to a climate emergency, increase volunteer capacity.” If you don’t already have a free BC Healthy Aging CORE (Collaborative Online Resources & Education) account , first register her e . Then click on Groups > Emergency Preparedness & Response > JOIN button for access to the Application Guide and Call for Proposals. ​ Date: Rolling applications accepted starting July 4, 2022 HAMBER FOUNDATION ​ Grants for projects arising and undertaken in the Province of British Columbia by registered charities for cultural, education and charitable purposes, in priority areas of athletics, arts & culture, health &welfare (including older adults). Emphasizing at-risk individuals, especially under-represented and marginalized populations and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion Dates: Applications reviewed Marc h 15th and September 15th. Information and application here COMMUNITIES FUND McConnell Foundation Our strategies: “Overcoming economic and social inequality requires collaboration, collective action and policy work, and this is where we will focus our support…address the underlying causes of systemic inequality, supporting the leadership of equity-deserving groups who face systemic barriers to economic and social justice.” Accepting applications on rolling basis November 2022 webinar recording and information here

NEWS NIDUS PERSONAL PLANNING RESOURCE CENTRE AND REGISTRY Nidus.ca Nidus is a non-profit that offers a variety of online presentations (webinars), information and documents about legal planning under BC legislation. These cover documents for while you are alive and for after death – e.g.Advance Directives, Disability Trusts, Representation Agreements, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Wills. It explains how to use the Nidus Registry service as a document repository. There are a variety of services offered as funding allows. 2024 Monthly webinar series here BROADWAY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION SURVEY Share your feedback on work to implement the Broadway Plan! We would like to invite you to share your feedback on the following aspects of plan implementation: City Hall Campus: Focuses on creating a long-term plan for the City lands around Vancouver’s City Hall. The Public Realm and Streetscape Plan: Focuses on improvements to the streets and public spaces in the area over the next 30 years. Broadway Plan Review: Focuses on reviewing some of the Plan’s land use and built form policies and proposing adjustments where necessary to achieve the Plan’s objectives. It also includes updates for Transit-Oriented Areas (TOAs). The survey will take about 10 to 25 minutes to complete, and you can have the opportunity to win 1 of 10 mini Vancouver City Halls. To complete the Survey Click Here ​ Open until July 14. AGING IN UNCERTAINTY United Way BC & Coalition of BC Non-Profit Community-based Seniors Organizations “Report…spotlights the critical issue of seniors struggling to secure affordable housing in the face of soaring living costs, stagnant government retirement incomes, and a shortage of affordable housing…BC's seniors experience an alarmingly high rate of financial hardship, with 15.2% of seniors considered low income. Shockingly, in 2020, one in four seniors in BC had after-tax incomes below $21,800—almost $10,000 below the minimum wage.” Report here GOOD NEIGHBOUR BLOCK CONNECTOR Kitsilano Community Action Network (KitsCAN) Good Neighbour Kitsilano is a grassroots, volunteer-run initiative aimed strengthening neighbourly connections and inspiring community action . In 2023, the focus was on emergency preparedness with Grab-and-Go-Bag workshops and participation in an Emergency Preparedness & Response pilot project. That’s because neighbours are your first responders in most emergency situations! Good Neighbour Block Connectors take action to identify gifts, assets, skills and knowledge among their neighbours . Fostering those social connections can make a difference in your life and the lives of residents living near you. KitsCAN is recruiting Block Connectors who will be supported in their outreach efforts. Join us and share creative ways to get started or build on what you already do. Time: Wednesday, March 13, 2024 5:30 - 7:30pm Location: Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2305 West 7th Ave. , Vancouver For more information: goodneighbourkits@gmail.com or Facebook here PATIENT VOICES NETWORK Health Quality BC “Health care organizations value patient partner input to improve quality of care… From committees to quality improvement projects, and everything in between, engagements are led by health care partners and promoted by PVN.” Opportunity postings come and go but can be filtered by Connection Method (virtual, in-person, hybrid), Length of Commitment (short- and/or long-term, one-time), Open to (affiliated with a BC Health Authority). Listings here HOUSING TOOLKIT J ewish Family Services “This toolkit is a guide to help you better understand subsidized housing system in Lower Mainland and familiarize you with other options that may be available through the community resources…a step-by-step guide to help you search for independent housing and navigate the housing system independently . View and download the Toolkit here BUS RENTALS ASK Friendship Society “9 or 18 passenger buses with experienced driver for 4 – 7 hour rental options. Senior-focused service that is wheelchair accessible, low-step entry, grab rails, 3-point seatbelts but accommodates all ages, children to adults. See website here for full details, pricing and photos. Contact to book: 604-263-7333 or caring@askcentre.ca ​ EVERY VOICE COUNTS Office of the Seniors Advocate BC “Long-Term Care Resident and Visitor Survey Results 2023 …that covered 297 publicly subsidized care facilities in B.C. and received responses from over 10,000 residents and almost 8,000 family members and close friends…Survey results show there has been little improvement in areas such as frequency of bathing, help at mealtimes, meaningful activities, engagement with staff and other residents, and the overall ratings of quality remain relatively unchanged. Despite these shortcomings, residents continue to give high marks to long-term care home staff for their skill, compassion and ability to treat residents with respect.” Highlights and links to the full report, presentation slides, videos, and more here ​ BOOK A PHARMACIST BC Ministry of Health On June 1, 2023, pharmacists’ scope of practice was expanded to allow them to prescribe for 21 minor ailments and contraceptives…Book an appointment to see a pharmacist through a new provincial online booking system … Search for available appointment times at nearby pharmacies or make an appointment by calling or visiting a pharmacy . Walk-in service without an appointment is also available at some pharmacies. Online booking at See a Pharmacist here BC BRAIN WELLNESS PROGRAMS BC Brain Wellness Centre, University of British Columbia "BC Brain Wellness Program...provides learning opportunities for medical professionals and the general public on brain wellness practices. Wide range of free programs …from interdisciplinary collaborations with UBC's Physiotherapy, Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy, Neurology, Psychiatry, Neurosciences, Sports Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology and the School of Music as well as several community partners." Some programs are in-person, others virtual. Winter 2024 registration opens January 8th Programs run from January 15th - April 12th Explore class options here LEGAL RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS Family Caregivers of BC and Nidus BC Estate planning takes care of your assets when you die - a Will and Enduring Power of Attorney, but they do not cover health or personal care. “If you do not want government (Public Guardian and Trustee of BC) to be involved in your personal and private affairs , you will want to make arrangements in case you need help managing your affairs due to illness, injury, or disability while you are still alive. “Choose those you trust to advocate for you and carry out your wishes, if you need help speaking up for yourself” and prepare a Representation Agreement (RA) and Advance Directive (AD). Read more about RA and AD here and here Help Age Canada & CORE Healthy Aging On Aging Canadian Conversations presents Dr. Samir Sinha, University of Toronto Health Network and expert in the care of older adults, spoke about meeting individual needs and finding the right place to age with supports that maintain one’s quality of life. Recording of a half-hour conversation with Dr. Sinha in March 2023 and links to his other presentations about practical technologies to help with aging place. Recording here FREE AND LOW-COST COMMUNITY FOOD RESOURCES ON WESTSIDE Westside Food Collaborative There are low-cost and subsidized meals and marketplaces and free food pantries and community fridges throughout the Westside Information here Information about similar services that are available elsewhere in the City of Vancouver here AGING IN THE RIGHT PLACE CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND MOVING FORWARD University of British Columbia and Lakehead University A 10-minute video captures the voices of people experiencing dementia and those facilitating projects involved with Building Capacity for Meaningful Participation by People Living With Dementia. These grassroots organizations undertook a variety of initiatives to create more inclusive communities. The Building Capacity project, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, celebrates its activities and anticipates moving forward with new initiatives to inspire others. Video Here BC COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTORY PathwaysBC Directory of “publicly available services and programs in participating communities.” The Directory is a joint initiative between Doctors of BC’s General Practitioner Services Committee and the BC government with a support team that provides the technical infrastructure. It is free, searchable by the public, and has many filter options to narrow down keyword searches Website here Heading 2 WELLNESS TOGETHER CANADA W ellness Together Canada is a “collaborative project…to provide high-quality resources for everybody and supported by a wide network of organizations …funded by the Government of Canada. It was created in response to a rise in mental health and substance use concerns and…services range from basic wellness information, to one-on-one sessions with a counsellor, to community support. Wellness Together Canada is designed to be used on demand .” Explore resources at the website here . If you would like to speak with a Program Navigator , call 1-866-585-0445. CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL PRESCRIBING (CISP) Intersectoral collaboration project anchored by the Canadian Red Cross “CISP is a new national hub to link people and share practices that connect people to community-based supports and services that can help improve their health and well-being … part of a global movement of people bringing community capacity and healthcare services closer together by directly addressing th e social determinants of health , from loneliness and social isolation to racism and ageism to income and housing and much more.” Newsletter, events, reports, resources, etc. Website resources here SENIORS ON THE MOVE Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) “BEST and other community partners assist seniors in finding alternative transportation options that are environmentally friendly, such as car pools and community shuttle buses …and with driving cessation …to increase transportation options for older adults in BC so they can continue to lead a full life after they stop driving.” Explore the website here . Their video, R.O.V.I.N.G. (Raising Our Voices in Support of Non-Ageist Ways of Getting Around) is the centre of a broad communications campaign and province-wide dialogue on seniors’ transportation issues. Are you or your organization interested in hosting a community dialogue and R.O.V.I.N.G. screening? Materials and support here INTERGEN NS North Shore Community Resources Intergenerational Program Directory and Resource Hub that “helps connect different generations on the North Shore while providing resources to help community partners establish intergenerational programming… These projects have been launched in order to actively facilitate a North Shore community that is connected, inclusive, and age-friendly.” Information here ​ ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOUR MIND & BODY HEALTHY McMaster Optimal Aging Portal “Many outdoor activities help older adults stay physically and mentally fit. ..Physical benefits include improved strength, better endurance and greater flexibility . Exercise is not only good for the body but your mind too! It can reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and reduce depressive symptoms.” Ideas here AGEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE: SUPPORTING OLDER CANADIANS TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT National Institute on Ageing report “This report aims to present a practical definition and framework to understand what ageing in the right place (AIRP) is and what is required to make it work… highlights existing best practices and oppor tunities that can reduce unnecessary LTC home admissions and better support the implementation of successful AIRP policies and programs across Canada and beyond.” Report and AIRP Programs & Services here FLIPPING STIGMA ON ITS EAR TOOLKIT & GUIDE Canadian Institutes of Health Research “The discrimination caused by stigma that accompanies a diagnosis of dementia needs to be ‘flipped on its ear’! The purpose of this toolkit is to recognize and respond to this stigma and discrimination. It has been designed by people with dementia to help others – including other people living with dementia, the people who support them, and those who do research – to address the challenges of stigma and discrimination.” Video clips demonstrate interactions and stimulate discussions. Explore the website here . Sign up for Newsletter here The Action Group's Guide for moving forward here MUSIC AS A CAREGIVING TOOL Family Caregivers of BC The latest in a series of 15 Caregiver Out Loud podcasts: "Hear how music enhances the care experience...No matter what your musical background is, music used intentionally can be beneficial to improve health and well-being...not only for the care recipient, but for you as well, as a caregiver...hear how music enhances the care experience." Listen here or subscribe to the series where you get your podcasts COVID IN THE HOUSE OF OLD Curator Megan J. Davies collaborated with on an installation project telling stories of those in long-term care during the pandemic: “how we failed our vulnerable elders…the sheer numbers of people who were lost…petition to transform eldercare for quality of life.” The website has the installation’s stories, pictures, audio plus educational resources (artefacts, podcasts, exhibit texts) This is a traveling exhibi t now in New Westminster, then Squamish, and bookable for other sites. Website here CULTURAL PROGRAMS Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society “Our Circle is Strong is a vital cultural pathway for individuals, families, and communities to keep spirits, hearts, and minds healthy and strong. The program aims to improve participants’ holistic wellness and develop positive individual and collective identities through a connection to Indigenous culture… The Elders and Knowledge Keepers in this program provide support and guidance.” Wellness means there is a broad range of one-on-one and group services here and a variety of cultural drop-in workshops here . and website here. BC SENIORS: FALLING FURTHER BEHIND Office of the Seniors Advocate, British Columbia “The report highlights the impact of rising costs on B.C. seniors who depend on government pensions and ranks B.C…The report includes the results of a province wide survey of low-income seniors and a provincewide consultation with over 80 community agencies who work with seniors.” Read the report here under 2022-2023 LIVING MY CULTURE Canadian Virtual Hospice “Quality palliative care helps you honour your culture, spirituality and traditions… people from various cultures share their stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life and grief to support others.” Also videos and insights from representatives of eight global cultures . Indigenous cultural safety training : Advanced illness, palliative care and grief and “Coming full circle: Planning for Your Care a booklet to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ choices for their future healthcare are known and respected.” Information here SHINE Seniors Housing Information and Navigation Ease The SHINE program, funded by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and led by the Seniors Services Society of BC, is a province-wide initiative designed to facilitate timely access to and navigation of appropriate housing services and support for seniors. Seniors Housing Navigators are located within each partner organization…Community Connectors reduce isolation and increase social and service connections for seniors through referrals to local, community-based programs and education… A Seniors Mental Health & Wellness Provincial Resource is an online directory and Provincial Seniors Housing Directory aimed to increase the accessibility of senior-specific housing ((e.g. Temporary Housing Program ) and mental health information…Capacity Building contributing to research projects, developing new initiatives, building a network of service providers, advocating for positive change, and building capacity in the sector.” See SHINE here for services from Partner organizations in your area ​ CAREGIVER LEARNING CENTRE Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver resources in formats to read (articles, tips, tools, flip books), watch (webinars and videos), listen (podcasts) or take a class or join a support group (free, online). Browse here GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT AGEISM World Health Organization (WHO) “This campaign aims to tackle ageism by changing how we all think, feel and act towards age and ageing…A toolkit to learn about ageism, initiate your own conversations about this important topic in your community, organize events to raise awareness, and spread the word through social media to create #AWorld4AllAges. Tookit and related information here IF NOT YOU, WHO? Advance Care Planning Canada “Planning for your future healthcare needs is importan t…Do you know what would happen if you couldn’t speak for yourself? Who would you trust to makd those healthcare decisions for you?... The best time to think about this is now when you can speak for yourself.” This website helps you put advance care planning into action with scenarios and resources. Start thinking about it by clicking here HOP ON BOARD! Active Aging Society, TransLink, Choose to Move Learn about multi-modal transportation options available to seniors and newcomers in an engaging webinar. Hop on Board! is an up-to-date review of various ways it can be easy to use public transit in Metro Vancouver. You might qualify for a HandyCard to get out and about. If so, care partners are free ! Webinar and transcript are available here MOVE AND CONNECT WEBINAR SERIES Active Aging Society “Features wide-ranging health promotion and healthy lifestyle topics...series aims to connect older adults to information and services to support their physical, social, and mental health…learn strategies and set goals.” Example: A Prescription for Nature: Connect to Better Health Through Nature in collaboration with BC Parks Foundation. Ask your healthcare provider for a ParX Prescription – hand them this flyer Series of recordings here

​ VOLUNTEERS YOU can help participate in community conversations assist with social, creative & physical activities provide technical expertise & logistical support interview & write stories Volunteers are essential partners in making Hub Partners' programs meaningful opportunities for participants. Your interactions with people living with dementia become important connections to community and diversify the kinds of activities that Hub Partners can offer. ​ Hub Partners would like to hear from you! Visit the Current Hub Partner Projects page to see which project is most attractive and contact the Partner sponsoring it.

HUB COMMITTEES Hub Projects are taken on by Hub Committees, issue-based, action-oriented groups made up of representatives from the Council, Partner Organizations, and the community. They meet as needed to focus attention on particular issues or activities by sharing information, suggesting to the Council what approaches might work, and planning events. They act on behalf of seniors to bring attention to issues and gaps in services. Their work engages businesses, government agencies, non-profit agencies, and the public in moving towards a community where seniors can have their needs met and age well. ​ At this time, Hub Committee members are all collaborating as a Working Group on the multifaceted Building Capacity Dementia Ventures p roject so for action consider Getting Involved! ACCESS & MOBILITY COMMITTEE ​ Identifies seniors’ concerns and needs regarding access and mobility ​ Develops strategies to address those concerns ​ Engages Partner Organizations in coordinated action to keep seniors active and safe within their neighbourhoods ​ WHAT HAVE WE DONE? ​ We recently completed Walk and Be Seen – Neighbourhood Projects 2017 – 2018. This was a pedestrian visibility project that encourages seniors to walk and be more visible during low-light hours. It reached >600 participants with education and visibility gear wiith funding from the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program. The final report is here . ​ To stay informed about current issues, we send a representative to connect with the City of Vancouver Seniors Advisory Committee and to Seniors' Transportation is a Right meetings. ​ HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE ​ ​ Identifies key physical, social, and mental health issues of Westside Seniors ​ Prioritizes needs and find ways to address them through collaboration with Westside Seniors Hub Council, Hub Partners, other seniors serving organizations, and the community ​ Promotes awareness of seniors’ needs and advocate for change ​ WHAT HAVE WE DONE? ​ Through a partnership with the Alzheimer Society of BC, the Committee has offered two series of workshops to train more than 100 participants in how to create a more dementia-friendly community. Community members, volunteers & staff of the Hub's Westside Partners participated in the workshops. ​ In 2019, we initiated a collaboration with UBC and Lakehead University for active grassroots participation in the 4-year federally PHAC-funded umbrella project for Dementia Ventures . COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE ​ Provides resources for people who want to learn more about seniors’ serving organizations and their services on Vancouver’s Westside. ​ Creates online and print materials that are accessible to seniors, care partners, and the general public ​ Recruits volunteers withskills in website development & maintenance, photography, messaging, and publishing. WHAT HAVE WE DONE? ​ With a New Horizons for Seniors Program grant, we consulted with seniors for input on the Hub design of a logo, website, and print materials and conducted quality testing. We developed a Communications Plan for rolling out and maintaining the website. ​ The website is now being updated to showcase Dementia Ventures and the projects that Partners are initiating. Our communications invite more Partners, Council members and volunteers to join the Hub for collective action on issues affecting seniors! ​

HUB WESTSIDE SENIORS ACCIÓN COLECTIVA POR Y PARA MAYORES Hub brochure here OUR MISSION To build a more responsive and resilient community for seniors on Vancouver’s Westside through the power of collective action. OUR KEY GOALS To identify and promote awareness of Westside seniors’ issues and priorities ​ To improve programs and services for seniors on the Westside through collective action by Hub Council, Hub Partner Organizations, and community organizations ​ To encourage seniors to become more engaged in their community WHAT IS THE HUB STRUCTURE? The Hub is comprised of Partner Organizations, a Hub Council, and action-oriented committees. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS serve seniors on the Westside and have an interest in collaborating with others to support seniors in their community. They meet quarterly to share information about resources and assets, identify emerging issues, and collaborate on building a range of integrated services for seniors. They work with the Hub Council and serve on committees to act on identified issues and represent the Hub to the public and various constituencies. Partners include public entities, non-profits, and faith-based organizations that provide services for seniors. THE HUB COUNCIL is composed of several Westside volunteer seniors who have knowledge of seniors’ issues, experience working on action-oriented teams, and skills to work collaboratively with each other, Partner Organizations and community members. They meet monthly to identify priorities and direct movement towards collective action. THE COMMITTEES have representatives from the Council, Partner Organizations, and the community. They meet as needed to focus attention on particular issues or activities by sharing information, suggesting to the Council what approaches might work, and planning events. They act on behalf of seniors to bring attention to issues and gaps in services. Their work engages businesses, government agencies, non-profit agencies, and the public in moving towards a community where seniors can have their needs met and age well. WHAT CONSTITUTES THE WESTSIDE? ¿QUÉ CONSTITUYE EL LADO OESTE? Definimos el área de influencia del Westside Seniors Hub como: Al oeste de Ontario Street, hasta el final para incluir UBC y Endowment Lands Al sur de Cornwall Street y False Creek Al norte de Marine Drive Tenga en cuenta que el área de influencia no incluye la península del centro ni la isla Granville. Los socios cuya oficina se encuentra fuera de nuestra área de influencia pueden unirse a nosotros si están sirviendo activamente a las personas mayores de Westside. HOW DID THE HUB EMERGE? The concept of a seniors hub first emerged through a 2009 research report entitled “Sustaining Seniors Programs through the Neighbourhood House Model,” which focused on opportunities for seniors at Kitsilano, Kiwassa & South Vancouver Neighbourhood Houses. ​ In 2010, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House received pilot funding from Vancouver Coastal Health – SmartFund, City of Vancouver, United Way, and the Vancouver Foundation to develop the South Vancouver Seniors Hub and produce an Implementation Plan and Seniors Hub Toolkit. ​ This led to Kitsilano Neighbourhood House receiving a 2013-2014 Vancouver Foundation grant for a Seniors for Seniors Project: Building a One-Stop Place for Westside Seniors. One of the aspects of this project was to develop a Westside Seniors Hub. A number of community members and seventeen senior-serving Westside organizations met at a visioning round-table in January 2014 to explore the potential benefits and nature of a Westside Hub. Several subsequent planning round-tables developed the structure of the Hub. In addition, they drew up Partner Collaborative Agreements, wrote a Hub Council Member job description, and both recruited and interviewed Hub Council applicants. ​ By February 2015, appointments to the Hub Council had been made and the first joint meeting of Partner Organizations and Hub Council members took place. The Hub has sought grant funding for various projects and operated with paid contractors. Now it has administrative support from Kitsilano Neighbourhood House and volunteer efforts to provide Partners with relevant information about diverse seniors' issues. Westside Seniors Hub brochure here SPONSORS ¿CÓMO SURGIÓ EL HUB? El concepto de un centro para personas mayores surgió por primera vez a través de un informe de investigación de 2009 titulado “Programas de mantenimiento para personas mayores a través del modelo de casas de vecindario”, que se centró en oportunidades para personas mayores en Kitsilano, Kiwassa y South Vancouver Neighborhood Houses. En 2010, South Vancouver Neighborhood House recibió financiación piloto de Vancouver Coastal Health - SmartFund, la ciudad de Vancouver, United Way y la Fundación de Vancouver para desarrollar el South Vancouver Seniors Hub y producir un plan de implementación y un kit de herramientas para Seniors Hub. Esto llevó a Kitsilano Neighborhood House a recibir una subvención de la Fundación de Vancouver 2013-2014 para un Proyecto de Personas Mayores para Personas Mayores: Construcción de un lugar único para personas mayores del Westside. Uno de los aspectos de este proyecto fue desarrollar un Westside Seniors Hub. Varios miembros de la comunidad y diecisiete organizaciones de Westside que sirven a personas mayores se reunieron en una mesa redonda de visión en enero de 2014 para explorar los beneficios potenciales y la naturaleza de un Westside Hub. Varias mesas redondas de planificación posteriores desarrollaron la estructura del Eje. Además, redactaron acuerdos de colaboración con los socios, redactaron una descripción del puesto de los miembros del Hub Council y reclutaron y entrevistaron a los solicitantes del Hub Council. En febrero de 2015, se habían hecho nombramientos para el Hub Council y se llevó a cabo la primera reunión conjunta de Organizaciones Socias y miembros del Hub Council. Desde entonces, el Hub ha buscado subvenciones para varios proyectos y ha operado con contratistas pagados, apoyo administrativo de Kitsilano Neighborhood House y esfuerzos voluntarios. PATROCINADORES Desde sus primeros inicios, el Hub ha recibido apoyo financiero de varios patrocinadores. Estamos agradecidos por su confianza y reconocimiento de la misión y los objetivos del Hub en nombre de las personas mayores. Volver a la cima

Events - Return to top SOUND BYTES SERIES Return to top Hub Community Action That Builds Capacity The Dementia Ventures project empowers Hub Partners to build out inclusive community programming for all and adapt to include people living with dementia. They and their care partners want to remain socially engaged in meaningful activities. A collaboration with UBC’s Dr. Alison Phinney and her Building Capacity team offers financial, strategic and logistical resources so programs can welcome and support those with dementia and their care partners. We celebrated midway in this initiative with a series of vibrant online community dialogues. The theme was: “What it means to be an accepting and inclusive community.” SoundBytes wants to share wisdom from those dialogues. Here are our first nuggets. There will be many more! PAVING THE WAY FOR OTHERS WITH DEMENTIA ... BC-based Lynn Jackson is a retired nurse and highly active advocate for people living with dementia. She's a member of several action groups and continues to blaze a trail for others to live well and feel empowered living with dementia. Watch Full Event HERE A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO DEMENTIA ... In a recent Dementia Dialogue podcast interview, BC artist and advocate Granville Johnson reminds us how crucial it is that people with dementia be involved in planning and decision making for initiatives that affect their lives. "Inclusion creates understanding, facilitates empathy, and shares love." For more on the importance of including and respecting people with dementia, please visit buildingcapacityproject.com and flippingstigma.com Watch Full Event HERE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ... This excerpt from a new episode of Dementia Dialogue features UBC's Dr. Alison Phinney on overcoming barriers to community engagement for people living with dementia. Dr. Phinney discusses what she's learned through her extensive research, and how important it is to have a team. Joining her in discussion on the episode is Community Research Coordinator Dr. Andrea Monteiro and BC-based Lynn Jackson, a dementia advocate and retired nurse living with dementia who explains what's been most effective for her. Watch Full Event HERE THE BEAUTY OF INCLUSION ... Veteran dementia advocate and Thunder Bay resident Bill Heibein expresses his deep appreciation for the inclusive and warm nature of his local Dementia Cafe and its refreshing lack of labels. "No one asks who's who; they just welcome you in the door." Sounds pretty lovely to us! Watch Full Event HERE THE POWER IN THE WORDS WE USE ... When John's doctor made a joke out of his dementia, he was deeply hurt. It's these kinds of microaggressions that create the biggest barriers for people with dementia to live well. Words like these that silence people who really need to speak and share. Help us empower people with lived experience to know they're entitled to live their best life too. Watch Full Event HERE PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING ... BC-based artist and advocate Granville Johnson spoke out about fear and the power of our perspective on Dementia Dialogue's most recent podcast episode, addressing the ways we can choose to gain some sense of control and joy back into our lives even in the face of new challenges. Watch Full Event HERE WHAT HOLDS US BACK The biggest challenge to community support for people living with dementia. In the most recent podcast episode of Dementia Dialogue, Dr. Alison Phinney discusses the stigma attached to dementia diagnoses and how that impacts community support efforts. She speaks with host Lisa Loiselle and fellow podcast guest Granville Johnson, who lives with dementia himself, about the important balance to be struck between training and education on one hand, and engaging with people with lived experience on the other. Watch Full Event HERE TURNING TOWARDS THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA A care partners perspective on what helps. Karen Rolston’s mother Louise started getting inklings something was a little “off” back in 2011. At the time, the Rolstons were already in the process of creating a laneway house on their property for her, so they could live close together. The timing worked out well. Louise lived there for seven years beside her daughter Karen, Karen’s husband, and their daughter. Those years were, “a beautiful opportunity for us to just wrap mom with more support and care while she was able to live in her own space,”Karen said. ​ When Karen thinks about the journey she has been on with her mom, and the reactions from people when it comes to dementia, the word that comes to mind is fear. “People find out someone has dementia, and they think, ‘Am I going to receive this diagnosis too?’ ‘Is someone I love going to get dementia?’” Rolston said. Fear seeps in and too often, people pull away. ​ “People often don’t know what to say or do, so they turn away from those with dementia instead of turning toward them with love,”Rolston said. Rolston is extremely grateful for community supports. Her mom really enjoyed the Alzheimer Society’s Minds in Motion program, the Alzheimer’s Café and the Helena choir she joined. “These community groups are where we felt really held,” she said. “It’s such a painful journey and there is still so much we can do.” ​ In this Soundbyte, Rolston offers her thoughts on how to really tune into a person’s needs and meet them where they are, rather than seeing their responses as resistance or defiance. Loving and showing up for someone with dementia is about cherishing the now, embracing their world, and accepting what is. Watch Full Event HERE ANDRÉ PICARD ON THE MEDIA'S ROLE IN STAMPING OUT STIGMA ... Esteemed Globe and Mail Columnist André Picard wrote Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada’s Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic in 2021, a book that discusses what needs to change to shift the culture of long-term care across our country. “Picard reveals the full extent of the crisis in eldercare and offers an urgently needed prescription to fix a broken system and ensure long-term care homes are not warehouses of isolation and neglect” Penguin Random House states on their site. Care home COVID outbreaks seemed to be exploding in every region of the country at the time, drawing attention to the deplorable working conditions they had for employees, the resulting neglect residents experienced, and the total lack of support for the institutions in general. In this storyboard, Picard says media needs to highlight not just worst-case scenarios meant to shock and awe, but stories about people living quite well for a long time with dementia. Seeing more people with dementia in our day-to-day activities—including in the news— would normalize that experience as a way of reducing stigma. Lastly, he emphasized the importance of having people with dementia sit on boards and committees on which they get a real vote in the outcomes of important decisions. Watch Full Event HERE SUZUKI ELDERS On the value of art in supporting the dementia journey... Rob Dramer and Lilllian Ireland are self-identified elders who work with the Suzuki foundation mentoring and supporting other elders and younger generations in dialogue and action on environmental issues. They're also traveling performers who offer a multi-sensory show featuring songs they've written about biodiversity, interspersed with some familiar tunes to help audiences tap into earlier memories. Music elicits powerful connections, and they invite audience members to join in the fun alongside them and their collection of beautiful local animal puppets. Watch Full Event HERE POETRY On the value of art in supporting the dementia journey... Myrna Norman is an author, artist, and dementia advocate based in Maple Ridge. In 2009, when Norman was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia and given eight years to live, she went home ready to die. But after grieving this news for a couple of weeks, Norman decided to do what she’s best at: advocating for change. She became heavily involved in initiatives that let others in her situation know they weren’t alone. Thirteen years later, Norman’s passion, generosity of spirit, and charisma have touched so many lives. Her book, “Dementia Strategies, Tips and Personal Stories,” has become an indispensable voice of validation and support. ​ Norman has participated in multi-year research studies, art-making groups and task forces including The Dementia Sisterhood, the Dementia Action Committee, Dementia Advocacy Canada, the Dementia Friendly Task Force, and now the Building Capacity Project to name just a few. She’s also collaborating with researchers and designers at Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab to develop a series of workbooks geared at supporting researchers to engage in collaborative work with people with lived experience. And to all these roles, she brings her signature energy, compassion, and love for showing people their strength. Watch Full Event HERE BEACON *Shining Light on Dementia An Initiative to build an inclusive congregation at Pacific Spirit United Church. A dedicated group of congregation members at Pacific Spirit United Church worked together over the course of a year to create an incredible and insightful four-part series on dementia that you can access online.​ ​ They had noticed church members struggling with cognitive decline and family members worried about finding extra care, so they dove in to offer support. Their commitment to fostering a dementia friendly culture at their church has since inspired many other groups to take action too. ​ For more details go to www.pacificspiritc.com and click on "ministries". The series is under "Beacon *shinning light on dementia." Watch Full Event HERE LET'S TALK ABOUT DEMENTIA The Flipping Stigma Toolkit An Action Group of people living with dementia came together and developed a toolkit to start a conversation about stigma and discrimination in dementia. The Flipping Stigma Toolkit is a project where a group of people diagnosed with dementia partnered with a research team to develop an online toolkit. ​ This Action Group, funded by a research grant from the Canadian Institute of Health and Research, co-designed the toolkit to help people with dementia recognize and respond to stigma and discrimination -and to help others better understand ho to be supportive-. ​ The Goa? Flip that fear on its ear. ​ To learn more visit www.flippingstigma.com Watch Full Event HERE EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY'S HEALTH DESIGN LAB Emily Carr University's Health Design Lab employs participatory methods to lift up the perspectives of people with lived experience. Researchers and designers at Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab use participatory design methods to catalyze, support and amplify initiatives addressing complex health challenges like dementia. “We use design methods to help engage people with dementia in initiatives that directly impact their lives,” said Lab Director Caylee Raber. The team’s current project is called Collaborate, Gather, Share—a workbook series co-designed by people with lived experience to help drive reflection around how they can be brought into research projects and how best to support those collaborations, recognizing people with dementia as experts. ​ Their recent video, “Perspectives,” paired design students with long-term care residents. They co-designed and co-wrote mini publications featuring residents’ stories. Students developed creative games and activities to help draw out residents’ stories that they then captured in zines and mini-books, some even embroidered on quilts. ​ Lastly, the team worked with Vancouver Coastal Health for four years on a project focused on shifting the culture of care in long-term facilities. All the Lab’s work focuses on how researchers and designers can use their skills and expertise to build upon work already being done—facilitating creative expression and self advocacy for people with dementia and getting those messages out to the world. Watch Full Event HERE REPRESENTATION MATTERS The power of seeing our experiences in the stories of others. Author, artist, and dementia advocate Myrna Norman runs a peer support group for others with dementia in her lower mainland community called the Purple Angels Memory Café. The group meets four times a month, and sometimes outdoors in summer when the weather is beautiful. Every second week, it’s the Army and Navy Club for a beer and live music. Members take turns bringing refreshments and treats and have fundraised up to $300 to put towards games and activities they can play together. The group is a wonderful way to connect with others, share similar experiences, and gain support and a powerful sense of belonging. The best part? Membership is free. “The gift [members] give to me is so much more than could ever be paid,” said Norman. ​ One new member who joined a couple of weeks ago turned to Myrna as he was leaving the Army and Navy Club and said, “Myrna, I feel different now. The music touched something inside of me.” ​ “I still get the shivers thinking about it,” Norman said of the comment. It’s revelations like this one that drew her to this work. ​ For more information or to check out the Purple Angels sometime, email Myrna Norman at: the.normans@shaw.ca Watch Full Event HERE THE POWER OF SUPPORT FROM OUR FAITH & CULTURE GROUPS Shared values and perspectives Reverend Deborah Liang has been a minister in the United Church of Canada for 37 years, the last four at Pacific Spirit Kerrisdale. She's seen how good communities gather around people in both their joys and troubles, contributing immensely to their quality of life. She also served as chaplain at a rural hospital and learned so much from nurses and program staff there about support, respect and care for people with dementia. Watch Full Event HERE RESPONDING TO DEMENTIA THROUGH A CROSS-CULTURAL LENS Shared values and perspectives One Vancouver man who has been advocating for the treatment and care of people with dementia ever since his dementia diagnosis over a decade ago, discusses how dementia is viewed through various cultural lenses. He explains how those lenses affect families' and individual's responses to diagnosis and decisions around treatment. Watch Full Event HERE TRUSTING OUR SENSE OF SELF ABOVE ALL ELSE Shared values and perspectives BC artist and dementia advocate Granville Johnson talks about the importance of trusting one's sense of self above all else when living with dementia. "The world might not know we're capable, but we can know it and live it and continue to pursue our dreams." Johnson lives in remote part of British Columbia where he's currently working on a novel. Watch Full Event HERE ON BRAVERY AND THE POWER OF SHARING OUR STORY Shared values and perspectives When Lester was first diagnosed with dementia, he and his wife and care partner Cindy found that some of their friends and family reacted with disbelief. Others weren't sure how to talk to him. Sharing the Flipping Stigma toolkit with their church and social communities gave the couple a chance to contextualize dementia for those who didn't know much about it. The toolkit allayed fears, provided reassurance, and ultimately resulted in Lester AND Cindy feeling they could open up more about his diagnosis, feel less shame, and share more of their journey with the people they cared about. The toolkit helped them feel much more deeply understood. Watch Full Event HERE HOW FOCUSING ON A PURPOSE BUILDS RESILIENCE Bill Heibein's journey with dementia. Bill Heibein continues to live on the farm he shared with his late wife Heather just outside Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. When he was diagnosed with dementia in 2000, doctors told him he'd have about five more years to live "usefully". Twenty-two years later, he has proven them wrong. In addition to caring for his horses, Bill volunteers as an advocate with the Northwest Dementia Working Group, helps run Dementia Cafes in the community, and is passionate about encouraging others with lived experience to get involved, advocate for themselves, and find purpose. Bill says it's that deep sense of purpose that's fuelled his ability to thrive with dementia for so long, and he's confident others can do the same. Watch Full Event HERE MAPPING DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY CULTURE A community works together to be more inclusive. When COVID-19 threatened to halt all their efforts in their tracks, Andrea Sara and her team found was to move online, gather virtually, solve problems, and dream big anyway. They worried for seniors who'd been hit particularly hard by increased isolation and wanted to ensure everyone in their community felt seen and supported. So, they went outside. They sought out "soothing spaces" where they could "feel safe socializing". That's how the Fireweed Club came to be. These days the DRA has its hand in so many wonderful initiatives, all which support inclusion, environmental awareness, and social engagement. Watch Full Event HERE ON THE VALUE OF INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION ... Dementia Educator and community advocate Helen Murphy has dedicated her career to making the North Shore and surrounding communities more dementia-friendly. She provides training for North Shore organizations, speaks to community groups, and volunteers in developing new programs and opportunities for people with dementia to live better lives in a community that is "wise, inclusive and socially integrated". Watch Full Event HERE THE NEED FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN ADVOCACY ROLES ... The Building Capacity Project team in Thunder Bay, Ontario partners with the Northwest Dementia Working Group on a number of fantastic community initiatives. The team is very grateful to the NWDWG members who have volunteered to help run some of their Dementia Cafes over the years, for instance, as these cafes are a great opportunity for people in the community to witness for themselves how important representation is, how much capacity there is among people with lived experience, and to be a apart of breaking down stigma. . CARE PARTNERS EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA ... Lynn Jackson is an action group member with lived experience who played a key role in developing the Flipping Stigma Toolkit, a new online resource helping educate caregivers, people with lived experience, researchers, and the public at large about how to respond to stigma around dementia. Jackson talks about how important it is for care partners to empower people with dementia to stay engaged and active. Fostering autonomy while supporting someone with dementia works to maintain their sense of personhood. Treating them like they're sick makes them feel that way. Watch Full Event HERE AMPLIFYING DIVERSE VOICES: THE VALUE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE ... Dr. Elaine Wiersma of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University talks about the need to amplify a wider cross section of voices when it comes to the lived experience of people with dementia. If our exposure of these experiences stays too narrow, we run the risk of silencing important wisdoms, staying uninformed as to the broad range of experiences, and keeping devastating stigmas alive. . ART AS A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE ... Art is a powerful vehicle for shifting perceptions and shaping culture. AND it's one way of letting your voice be heard when the words themselves might be too hard to say. Whether it's a poem, a collage, a painting, or a dance, the arts can be incredibly helpful and moving for people with dementia at all stages of their journey, and can help the public gain insight into their experience. .