New Horizons for Seniors Program promotes the well-being and social inclusion of seniors
May 16, 2014 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development
Older Canadians across the country will soon have new opportunities to address social isolation thanks to the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), today announced the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).
Twenty organizations across Canada will receive a total of $1.4 million in NHSP funding for their innovative projects addressing the social isolation of seniors and providing opportunities for intergenerational learning between older Canadians and youth.
Among these organizations, Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House is receiving more than $57,000 through the NHSP pilot project to test brain fitness software and activities aimed at helping seniors.
Older Canadians, including those with declining mental health and cognitive impairments such as memory problems, will benefit from this program. A brain wellness manual will be developed in consultation with seniors, academics and community professionals. Youth and seniors will work together to deliver the training program to help older Canadians increase their social networks and become more engaged in their communities.
Earl Maynard
Office of the Minister of State (Seniors)
613-716-5422
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
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 to the benefit of others. Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 13,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
NHSP funding is targeted to community-based projects, pan-Canadian projects and pilot projects that focus on issues like social isolation and intergenerational learning.
Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year per organization in grant funding.
Pan-Canadian projects provide support to help seniors protect themselves from elder abuse, including financial abuse and fraud. These projects enable community members to better recognize elder abuse in all its forms and to improve the quality of life, safety and security of seniors. Projects focus on developing tools, resources and promising practices that can be adapted and shared across communities, regions or Canada and may be eligible to receive up to $250,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
Pilot project funding provides support to help address seniors’ isolation through establishing better social support networks and resources and initiating community interventions. It also identifies intergenerational learning projects that help seniors develop new interests and share their knowledge and experience with others. These pilot projects are eligible to receive up to $100,000 of federal funding over a maximum of 24 months, which will be matched with funding from other sources.
For more information on the NHSP, visit esdc.gc.ca/seniors.
