Health Literacy Funding for Nova Scotia Seniors

NOTE: Details of the funded projects follows this release.

Seniors in Nova Scotia will have more opportunities to gain health literacy skills and raise self confidence through community-based literacy programs funded by the Seniors' Secretariat and the Department of Education.

The Seniors' Literacy and Learning Grants Committee has awarded $20,000 to community-based literacy programs for seniors. Six community groups throughout the province will continue to work with seniors to promote literacy.

"Health literacy affects everyone, especially seniors, who represent a growing group in the province," said Minister of Seniors Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "Taking action on seniors literacy is yet another government initiative supporting the Strategy for Positive Aging in Nova Scotia."

The groups will use a guide, A Health Literacy Manual for Older Adults, developed by the Seniors' Secretariat. Health literacy is critical for maintaining a healthy lifestyle by being able to understand things like food labels, medical instructions, the importance of fitness, routine medical examinations, and proper dental care.

"These programs will not only help improve the health literacy skills of seniors, but will also increase their self confidence in maintaining their health, and improve their communication with health providers," said Marguerite McMillan, literacy co-ordinator with the Seniors' Secretariat.

The program offers practical lessons for seniors that help with needs such as talking to a doctor or understanding nutrition labels. Some groups bring in guest speakers, such as pharmacists, fitness instructors, or nutritionists, to assist with programs.

Program funding will be distributed in this month and the programs are expected to run nine to 12 weeks.

Funding recipients are:

• Antigonish Adult Learning Association/St. Andrews Oak and Owl Seniors Club
• Dartmouth Literacy Network/Lake Loon Cherry Brook Senior Citizens Group
• Preston Area Learning Skills Society/East Preston Seniors' Group
• Guysborough Adult Learning Association/Seniors Along the Bay (Larry's River)
• Guysborough Adult Learning Association/Shamrock Seniors Club (Canso)
• Valley Community Learning Association/Grandmothers' International Storytelling Group

NOTE: Following are details of the projects being funded.

• Antigonish Adult Learning Association/St. Andrews Oak and Owl Seniors Club for a nine-week program at two hours per week for 10 to 15 seniors. Emphasis will be on health literacy with guest speakers.

• Dartmouth Literacy Network/Lake Loon Cherry Brook Senior Citizens Group for a 10- to 12-week program at two hours per week for about 20 seniors. Emphasis will be on health literacy with occasional guest speakers.

• Preston Area Learning Skills Society/East Preston Seniors' Group for a 12-week program at 2.5 hours per week for about 40 seniors. Emphasis will be on health literacy with occasional guest speaker. (The committee recommended that the group be split into two groups of 20 seniors for a grant of $2,500 for each group.)

• Guysborough Adult Learning Association/Seniors Along the Bay (Larry's River) for a 10-week program at four hours per week, for eight to 10 seniors. Emphasis will be on health literacy.

• Guysborough Adult Learning Association/Shamrock Seniors Club (Canso) for a 10-week program at four hours per week for 10 to 12 seniors. Emphasis will be on health literacy.

• Valley Community Learning Association/Grandmothers' International Storytelling Group for a nine-week program at three hours per week for about 14 seniors. Emphasis will be on writing and performing a play based on stories written in a previous literacy project.