Officials with the federal government have announced funding aimed at keeping seniors active and involved in their community.
Sean Fraser, the MP for Central Nova, committed $30,000 through the New Horizons for Seniors Program in Antigonish Monday night.
Fraser tells The Hawk it’s part of federal officials’ new national strategy to combat dementia.
“We have a disproportionately high number of seniors living in our communities,” he says. “It’s important that we deliver on the programs and infrastructure that support them.”
Members of the Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!) Society are receiving money to develop arts-based programming for seniors with dementia to support social inclusion and participation; reps with the MacLeod Group are getting funds to create new programs and activities, and purchase materials to allow seniors with dementia to engage in meaningful activity.
Fraser says he’s seen the benefits of such programs first-hand.
“When you talk to a family member of someone who’s living with dementia who gets to witness for the first time, sometimes in a few years, their parents be themselves, it’s an absolutely incredible thing to be a part of.”
Fraser says Monday’s announcements connects nicely with the focus federal officials have put on seniors.
