Creating space for seniors to thrive

Makayla Cole
Oct 9
2 min read

October is a time to celebrate all the contributions that older adults make to our families and communities. On October 1 we marked National Seniors Day in Canada, and from October 5-11 we celebrated Seniors Week in Nova Scotia!

This year we launched a new program, co-designed by seniors. SPACE (seniors participating actively in community environments) to Thrive is a monthly opportunity for older adults to take a holistic approach to their health and wellbeing, from good food to movement and social interaction.

Through roundtable sessions, seniors designed a series of 10 sessions that meet their specific interests and needs. Some sessions have focused on arts and crafts, like a paint night with Coastal Pigments and multiple drop-in crafting sessions; we’ve held special workshops on heat safety and increased movement, and a day trip to Memory Lane Heritage Village in Lake Charlotte.

The day trip to Memory Lane Heritage Village was a particularly special experience. Thirty seniors from the community attended and the feedback was so positive. The bus driver took the scenic route on the way back to Dartmouth and for some, it was the first time they had seen Lawrencetown Beach in decades.

On Tuesday, October 7, we held Seniors Wellness Expo which brought 13 different community organizations to The North Grove. The Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centre even offered free hearing tests in our clinic space. It was great to have so many services for seniors accessible in one place.