Manitoba
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Seniors and Healthy Aging

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Seniors & Healthy Aging Secretariat

Partners

The Seniors and Healthy Aging works with many partners to support seniors in leading active, socially engaged, and independent lives. With a growing population of seniors that is expected to increase by 43% over the next 20 years, we know that communities will face both new opportunities and challenges in responding to their needs and desires.

Our partners provide a range of services to older adults in Manitoba including advocacy, education and referral, elder abuse counseling and referral, as well as research on aging. We believe that these partnerships are essential to creating age-friendly communities that will ensure the participation, health, independence and security of older persons and contribute to healthy aging in our province.

AGE & OPPORTUNITY

  • Provide shuttle bus transportation for older adults living in a number of Winnipeg communities.
  • Develop a sustainable plan for the shuttle bus for older adults.
  • Further develop the programming offered via the Senior Centre without Walls Program. Senior Centre without Walls provides programming, such as discussion groups, and lectures, via telephone for socially isolated seniors. 

LA  FÉDÉRATION  DES  AÎNÉS  FRANCO‑MANITOBAINS (FAFM)

  • Implement a marketing strategy targeting individuals 50+ to become members of FAFM.
  • Utilize the radio program “Prends le temps” on Envol 91.1 to promote of FAFM, their services, clubs and special events in the francophone community.
  • Continue to encourage and support FAFM clubs to partner with francophone and French immersion schools for intergenerational activities.
  • Encourage and support FAFM clubs in rural and urban areas to offer more physical activity programs such as walking groups, tai chi and line dancing.
  • Provide transportation at a reduced rate to older adults throughout Manitoba to FAFM events and investigate the sustainability of this transportation program.
  • Support Board development and review the Constitution for the organization.

ABORIGINAL SENIORS RESOURCE CENTRE (ASRC)

  • Traditional Teachings Project: Develop a curriculum of traditional teachings with Elders.  Elders will participate in a number of workshops to share traditional teachings on such topics as the role of the sweat lodge, the seven teachings, the medicine wheel, and role of an elder.  This curriculum will ensure that traditional teachings will be shared with younger generations. 
  • Run a Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition Seniors series with topics such as proper food preparation, healthy eating, traditional foods, shopping tips, diet and diabetes, etc.  The ASRC will explore partnerships with local schools in running this series.  
  • Increasing and diversifying physical activity programming at the ASRC.

MANITOBA SOCIETY OF SENIORS

  • Explore partnership opportunities with other senior serving organizations in Manitoba and Canada.
  • Continue to consult with members and non-members in both rural and urban Manitoba to increase the profile of the organization. 
  • Continue to organize the “Senior Idol” competition to promote social participation and positive images of aging.
  • Increase promotion of the MSOS 55+ Games. 
  • Purchase equipment for the MSOS 55+ Games; including equipment which will remain in the host community to ensure continued active participation.
  • Provide training sessions to the host community and volunteers of MSOS 55+ Games with an emphasis on ensuring that each sport is run at the highest standard.

CREATIVE RETIREMENT MANITOBA

  • Continue to partner with schools to promote intergenerational activities throughout Manitoba through a variety of programs including the Family Literacy Olympics.  The Family Literacy Olympics promotes family learning through a combination of physical and mental activities. The program uses the Olympic Games as a model for intergenerational events that give whole families the opportunity to learn and play together. 

THE MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR CENTRES

  • Promote and support the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative throughout the province by once again offering an Age-Friendly Manitoba Grant Program for their member organizations.  Senior centres will be able to apply to MASC for funding to support projects or events which fit within one of the 8 Age-Friendly domains.  MASC will also ensure that the senior centres report back on their projects. 
  • Continue promotion of the Police Academy: Older Adult Division.
  • Provide support to new senior centres. 
  • Establish a recognition system for members and volunteers of senior centres.
  • Maintain and increase partnerships with various organizations throughout the province working with older adults.
  • educating and engaging senior centres on the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative (AFMI) and the role they can play in creating an age-friendly community;
  • working with senior centres, seniors clubs, drop-in centres or other senior serving organizations to build capacity and support AFMI;     
  • working collaboratively with other provincial senior serving organizations to promote AFMI; and
  • working collaboratively with the CURA Community Liaison Officer and SHAS to: ensure that local advisory committees are connected to community resources; and to encourage the participation of older adults on each advisory committee;

MA MAWI WI CHI ITATA CENTRE

  • Address age-friendly priority areas such as social isolation, transportation, and access to information and services.
  • Deliver weekly structured programs and monthly outings for seniors in North Winnipeg with a focus on providing free programs to low-income and Aboriginal seniors.
  • Explore sustainable funding options for the North End Wellness Elder Program.
  • Strengthen partnerships with local organizations to ensure the continuation of programming. 

ACTIVE LIVING COALITION OF OLDER ADULTS IN MANITOBA
(“called ALCOA-MB”)

  • Build capacity within ALCOA-MB (i.e. create partnerships with new organizations and strengthen existing partnerships, continue to build older adult volunteer base, and increase communication with partner organizations).
  • Coordinate provincial efforts to promote healthy lifestyles for older adults
  • Develop a communications/marketing strategy to promote healthy aging throughout the Province (i.e. via newsletter, web-site).
  • Continue to promote the Active Living Gear Kit and loan it out to communities throughout Manitoba.
  • Continue to support peer leaders by providing on-going support, training, and recognition.
  • Identify new opportunities for peer leadership.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS NETWORK FOR SENIORS IN MANITOBA (TONS)

  • Capacity Building within TONS by building partnerships with new stakeholders and strengthen existing partnerships with key stakeholders; developing a diverse funding base; and increasing communication with partners.
  • Support the work and to assist in facilitating meetings of TONS’ Rural Transportation Committee.
  • Act as a resource to Age-Friendly Manitoba Communities for transportation information, education, and resources.
  • Continue to coordinate education sessions in partnership with Winnipeg Transit and local senior serving organizations in Winnipeg with low senior ridership but a high population of seniors.   Ensure sessions are age-friendly by: developing age-friendly transit information, in collaboration with Winnipeg Transit; ensuring the program is also accessible to recent immigrants and individuals of all abilities; and by ensuring that bus drivers are sensitive to the needs of older adults.
  • Utilize web-site and e-newsletter to education professionals, seniors and their families on senior transportation issues.