Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors Darryl Plecas has issued the following statement in recognition of National Seniors Day as well as International Day of Older Persons:

“Seniors are the heart and soul of B.C. communities. They live healthy, active lives and continue to contribute in many ways to our province. They advocate for their friends and neighbours, they volunteer for countless good causes, and they are often caregivers for their loved ones.

“Since my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors this year, I’ve been travelling around British Columbia meeting with seniors and seniors’ groups, speaking with them as well as listening to their concerns.

“Earlier this week, I was honoured to present the ‘Let’s Embrace Aging Passionately’ award at the annual BC Seniors Living Association conference. The winner, Janet Shier, is a 12-year resident at Cavell Gardens in Vancouver. Janet just turned 100 and is a perfect example of the many active, independent seniors living in communities throughout B.C.

“Government is committed to strengthening the services seniors receive and continues to make significant investments in supports ranging from home health to assisted living, and residential care services.

“We have also heard from older adults that care and supports in their local community are important and this is a large part of our strategic focus, as we work to improve the quality of life of B.C seniors. In fact, the Province recently announced $500,000 for the 2016 Age-friendly grants, which allow communities to plan ahead to better accommodate seniors’ needs and independence close to home.

“We have delivered on commitments, such as establishing a seniors’ advocate, expanding non-medical home support to help older British Columbians stay at home longer, and strengthening protection for seniors from abuse and neglect.

“Protecting seniors is a top priority. Elder abuse can take many forms, from physical to emotional or financial.

“With this in mind, a provincial online resource on elder abuse is now available. The Elder Abuse Reduction Curricular Resource consists of a guide and a presentation that focuses on detection and prevention. The resource includes activities, videos and articles. It’s designed for educational and training institutions and non-profit agencies, as well as the public and those that work with seniors, such as care facility employees.

“Seniors helped build B.C. - they deserve our heartfelt gratitude as well as our respect.”

For more information, visit: https://urls.bccampus.ca/5vz