New program will help seniors

A new program launched on Nov. 7 created by the DIRECTIONS Council for Vocational Services Society and funded by the province will help older Nova Scotians live in their homes longer.

The Home Services Nova Scotia program will help older adults access a variety of affordable, non-medical services such as housekeeping, meal preparation and yard work. The services are provided by people living with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues and delivered with the help of community agencies.

“This program has created an extremely valuable service,” said Seniors Minister Leo Glavine in a news release.

“Home Services Nova Scotia helps support older Nova Scotians age at home and maintain a connection to the community. They can get help with simple chores, running errands, even shovelling snow. We’re excited to help older Nova Scotians keep their independence and build

stronger, more inclusive communities.”

In southwestern Nova Scotia, Atelier de Clare, Conway Workshop Association (Digby), Kaye Nickerson Adult Centre (Yarmouth) and the Shelburne Area Supporting Inclusion (SASI) are member agencies of the DIRECTIONS Council for Vocational Services Society, a not for profit organization. The council’s mandate is to assist and support member organizations in the delivery of services that promote the abilities and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the every day activities of their community.

The program also supports SHIFT: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for an Aging Population, a government initiative that focuses on helping older Nova Scotians stay involved in work, entrepreneurship, volunteering and other activities.

For further information call 211 or visit http://www.directionscouncil.org .

Ten pre-primary locations across the province – including two in the tri-counties – will pilot a new on-site before-and-after program for pre-primary children, focused on physical activity and outdoor play.

Government will work with the child care and recreation sectors to deliver the pilot program, which will be aligned with government’s new Let’s Get Moving Nova Scotia action plan.

The two locations in this region that are part of the pilot are Yarmouth Central School and Weymouth Consolidated School.

“We want families to have access to before and after programs for children in pre-primary,” says Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Zach Churchill. “We’re working with our partners to create a seamless day for pre-primary children in a quality, accessible and affordable program that focuses on the physical health and well-being of children.”

The pilot program will offer physical activity, outdoor play and movement in a quality, onsite location.

Three of the pilot sites will be at pre-primary locations where there currently exists a before and after program for pre-primary children. The remaining seven pilot sites will see a new before and after program open to pre-primary children at those locations.

The before and after programs are separate from the provincial pre-primary program. They will be fee-based and delivered by an approved regulated child care provider or recreation provider.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Education will also extend their Child Care Subsidy Program to families of pre-primary children participating in the pilot program, who meet the income threshold criteria.

For more information about the Child Care Subsidy Program visit https://www.ednet.ns.ca/ earlyyears/families/childcaresubsidy.shtml

The pilot programs will run until the end of June, when the pre-primary programs close for the summer.