Seniors’ Literacy and Learning
Initiative 2008
Seniors in Nova Scotia will once again have the opportunity in 2008 to gain health literacy skills and raise their self confidence through community-based literacy programs funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Seniors.
Health literacy is critical for maintaining a healthy lifestyle by being able to understand things like food labels, medical instructions, healthy eating, the importance of fitness, what to ask your doctor, proper dental care, etc.
The Seniors' Literacy and Learning Grants Committee recently announced that a total of $40,000 will be awarded to community learning networks in 2008 who partner with local seniors’ groups to offer health literacy programs for seniors. Partner groups can apply for grants of up to $5,000 each.
A Health Literacy Manual for Older Adults, a guide developed by the Department of Seniors will be available to groups receiving the grant.
To find out how to qualify for the 2008 grants, seniors organizations can contact their local community learning network, or Martha Shinyei, Adult Education Coordinator at 902-543-2376, or Marguerite McMillan, Department of Seniors at 902-424-5329.
As part of the Seniors’ Literacy and Learning Initiative 2007, the following partners received funding for seniors’ literacy programs:
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- Preston Area Learning Skills Society/East Preston Seniors' Group for a 12-week program at 2.5 hours per week for about 20 seniors.
-- 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.
-- Guysborough Adult Learning Association/Shamrock Seniors Club (Canso) for a 10-week program at four hours per week for 10 to 12 seniors.
-- Valley Community Learning Association/Grandmothers' International Storytelling Group for a nine-week program at three hours per week for about 14 seniors.
The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) is part of the Adult Education Division of the Department of Education. Created in September 2001, NSSAL coordinates educational programs for adults who want to upgrade their literacy skills and/or earn their high school diploma. The school offers programs at more than 150 sites across the province in partnership with regional school boards, Nova Scotia Community College, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations.
The Grandmothers’ International Storytelling circle partnered with the Valley Community Learning Association to offer a seniors’ literacy and learning program in 2005-2006. With administrative support from the Valley Community Learning Association, the Grandmothers’ International Storytelling Circle began their program with two goals in mind: (1) to have a group of seniors in Kentville produce a book of personal stories and (2) to do outreach sessions to West Hants and Annapolis counties to encourage other senior groups to have storytelling circles. Both goals were met.
Seniors’ Literacy and Learning Partnership Award
The Seniors’ Literacy and Learning Partnership Award was created in 2007 to recognize exemplary partnerships between learning networks and seniors’ councils or other seniors’ organizations in the provision of upgrading programs to older learners in Nova Scotia.