The United Way of the Lower Mainland recently announced that it is cutting $1.65 million in funding to 31 seniors’ groups, many of whom rely on these funds to administer programs to prevent and ameliorate social isolation and loneliness.
Social isolation and loneliness are major risk factors for physical and mental health problems, as well as early death—risk factors on par with, or greater than, other risk factors.
The Seniors’ Advisory Committee has therefore passed a motion calling on Council to ask the Province to cover the United Way’s funding shortfall so that critical programs to prevent and combat isolation and loneliness are not eliminated.
