Sunday December 19, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
[UPDATE Dec 20, 2021]: Turns out this was an announcement about government funding of $720,000 to support an organization called SHINE, to assist challenged seniors in preventing homelessness.
This could be seen as a lost opportunity to please seniors across the province this Christmas in the second year of the pandemic. Perhaps there is more to come, we haven’t heard. ~ Editor
A provincial grant that is intended to help support seniors throughout British Columbia is being announced on Monday December 20.
The announcement is being made on Monday morning by Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
It will likely be a nice touch for many, just ahead of Christmas.
A tough year:
In this second year of the COVID pandemic there has been strain on everyone.
Last week Malcolmson delivered news of her ministry’s efforts to assistance with substance abuse.
For many working seniors age 60+, the loss of Guaranteed Income Supplement support for having taken CERB or CRB in 2020 has also been an additional strain on top of COVID stresses since July of this year.
COVID boosters:
In recent weeks, most seniors in long-term care homes have received booster doses (a third shot) of the COVID vaccine. Seniors in the community will largely be offered a third dose in January, February and March (whenever their six-month interval following their second dose comes up).
Well-being top of mind:
Overall, it’s a stressful time during the pandemic, despite the joys of the holiday season. It could be said that tomorrow’s announcement strikes just the right tone from a government that emphasizes how it puts people first.
