HEALTH, EDUCATION & FINANCE
NEWS FILE PHOTO
Citing the importance of seniors to the area, Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan (second from right) chose to launch the Better at Home program at the SOS in Parksville in April 2013 with (from left): SOS executive director Renata Sutherland, former Parksville-Qualicum MLA Ron Cantelon, SOS co-founder Edith Chamberlayne and United Way COO Deborah Irvine.
Taking care of mind, body and finances Parksville Qualicum Beach offers a wide array of health and educational services for older adults. There are many educational opportunities available to seniors through local governments, schools and non-profit organizations. The Parksville Vancouver Island (VIU) University campus offers Elder College (www.viu.ca/eldercollege) available to people 50 and over, with general interest classes taught by expert volunteers and very low annual membership and per-course fees. ElderCollege features casual, social classes that offer a lot of lively, informative discussion and no quizzes or grades. VIU also has a number of adult basic education, continuing education and university transfer courses open to everyone. The Society of Organized Services (SOS) runs programs for people of all ages, and seniors can take advantage of the Seniors Are Talking program. This program offers seniors a friendly, comfortable place for social interaction, problem solving and brainstorming around common concerns. Topics include health, safety, housing and seniors’ benefits, with guest speakers and monthly excursions. “We keep the program fun, and also offer seniors the opportunity to take a proactive role in issues that affect
them,” says seniors coordinator Dawn Barry. The SOS (www.sosd69.com) is also the local provider of a new program called Oceanside Better at Home, which is a partnership with United Way and funded by the Government of British Columbia. “The Oceanside Better at Home program allows seniors to age at home with dignity, by helping with everyday tasks such as light housekeeping, friendly visiting and non-medical drives,” says program coordinator Jane Williams. It’s meant to compliment existing local programs and those provided through regional health authorities. Check www.betterathome.ca for more information. The SOS also offers tax preparation and benefit application programs, helping low income seniors file their returns and complete the proper paperwork to ensure they get the benefits they are entitled to. Through the Seniors’ Connection program, SOS can assess the needs of individual seniors to determine individual needs, and help them access local resources. There are many general practitioners and health services in the area including the Island Health’s new Oceanside Health Centre, an urgent and primary care health facility. pqbnews.com
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