Vancouver, British Columbia, December 19, 2013—The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced today that seniors in Vancouver will continue to benefit from projects that raise awareness about elder abuse and financial fraud, funded through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
“Raising awareness about elder abuse is fundamental to maintaining seniors’ safety and well-being,” said Minister of State Wong. “This project teaches seniors and others in the community the signs of elder abuse and how they can prevent it from happening to them.”
Gordon Neighbourhood House received close to $25,000 to develop and deliver workshops on identifying abusive behaviours. Volunteer seniors will also help develop the training packages, increasing their social participation and engagement in their communities.
“Funding from the federal government allows Gordon Neighbourhood House to engage elders and others in our community in essential conversations on elder abuse through the offering of informative workshops,” said Paul Taylor, Executive Director, Gordon Neighbourhood House. “The workshops are aimed at increasing community awareness and the elimination of all forms of elder abuse in our community and beyond.”
The Government invested more than $33 million in NHSP funding for over 1 750 community-based projects across Canada, approved through the 2012–2013 Call for Proposals. For more information, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.
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Director of Communications
Office of Minister of State (Seniors), Alice Wong
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New Horizons for Seniors Program
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities.
Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences for the benefit of others. Since it began, the Program has funded more than 11 200 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
NHSP funding is available for both pan-Canadian and community-based projects.
Pan-Canadian projects focus on developing or identifying tools, resources and promising practices that can be adapted and shared across communities, regions or Canada to address elder abuse. They are eligible for up to $250,000 in funding per year, for up to three years.
Community-based project funding provides support for activities that are inspired or
led by seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives. Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year per organization in grant funding.
A subsequent call for proposals for pilot projects was launched on October 3, 2013, and closed on November 13, 2013. This call sought proposals for larger-value, longer-duration pilot projects focussing specifically on seniors’ isolation and/or intergenerational learning. Projects will receive up to $100,000 over 24 months in contribution funding, engage partners and leverage funding from other community partners.
For more information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.
Other actions taken by the Government of Canada to combat elder abuse
In 2008, the Government launched the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative (FEAI), a multi-departmental, three-year initiative to help seniors and others recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and to provide information on available supports. This initiative successfully concluded on March 31, 2011.
Building on the momentum created by the FEAI, the Government continues to address elder abuse through awareness campaigns, as well as funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program for projects that help combat elder abuse. For more information, visit www.seniors.gc.ca.
In addition, the Government is addressing elder abuse through the Protecting Canada's Seniors Act, which came into force on January 13, 2013. This legislation better protects seniors by ensuring tougher sentences for those who take advantage of elderly Canadians.
