As the summer draws to a close, seniors in four Cape Breton communities can look forward to some great activities over the fall and winter, thanks to a new program developed by Cape Breton University (CBU). The program is called Communities and Healthy Aging, which will host free, bi-weekly programs for residents of Whitney Pier, Glace Bay, Chéticamp and Judique, offered for those 55 years and over, at-risk or living with dementia, along with their caregivers.
CBU’s Centre of Excellence for Healthy Aging will launch programs on September 11, with an alternating schedule every two weeks. The gatherings will take place from 1-3 pm, continuing until May 2025. Activities may include music, art, nutrition, exercise and social activities, all recognized as supporting healthy aging and in particular, brain health. A full calendar is available on the CBU website.
The project evolved over an 11-week pilot phase that involved community input. Project Manager Lydia Kerr coordinated the effort, working closely with community networks to build the programs. Additional support was gained by connecting with organizations like the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia, Caregivers Nova Scotia, the Centre of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH) and Community Links.
“It was important that the unique facets of each community, whether geographic or cultural considerations, were part of the program design,” says Kerr. “That’s where connections in local communities informed the early stages of the project and reflect local interests.”
Each community now has a local collaborator, working part time to facilitate connections in each of the four locations. Kerr says the project team is excited to have wonderful programs in place. “We are happy to offer a program that will support healthy aging, as well as a regular social event people can mark on their calendars,” she says. Registration and referrals are not required so residents in the four communities are welcome to drop in. For more information, visit the CBU website or email lydia_kerr@cbu.ca.