P.E.I. gets $100K to boost social lives of seniors

Seven organizations on P.E.I. are receiving almost $100,000 from the federal government to help encourage seniors to be socially active in their communities.

The funding is for projects through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

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The organizations are:

• P.E.I. Chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association will receive $12,115 to support their project Pardon Me, What Did You Say?. Seniors involved with the organization will develop a booklet and seminars to foster more effective communication skills between seniors with hearing impairments and the community.
• The Voluntary Resource Council will receive $25,000 to engage seniors in the community through mentoring of others by training seniors to mentor seniors in the components of mental health.
• The Farm Centre Association will receive $2,000 to develop workshops, lead multigenerational participants in gardening activities and expand the games area to support social participation in the community.
• The Seniors Active Living Registry will receive $2,700 to support social participation and inclusion of seniors through the creation of a play, nutrition sessions, and crafts.
• Island Matters will receive $7,200 to support engaging seniors in the community by providing instructions in rug hooking and caring for rugs.
• Recreation PEI will receive $24,973 to support engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others by planning, facilitating and promoting walking among seniors.
• P.E.I. Seniors Citizens' Federation will receive $24,502 to host sessions for seniors to learn about gathering a personal collection of their favourite objects, memories or thoughts and arranging them into a shadow box display.

'Healthier and happier'

Don Sanderson, president of the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation, said the investments should help enrich the lives of seniors.

"Studies have shown that people who are socially connected and engaged are healthier and happier," he said in a news release.

"With funding from New Horizons, we're pleased to be able to offer a new program, My Favourite Things, to seniors across the Island during the late fall and winter months, when folks tend to socially isolate."

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