Spring Into Action as the Days Grow Longer!
In like a lion, out like a lamb seems to be true about March so far. In the final days of February, it’s cold and windy (along the coast, at least). You know what else is cold? Criminals who trick vulnerable adults into giving them their money. As part of Fraud Prevention Month in March, we bring you a story about the bad guys who use AI software to copy the voices of family members and strategies to outsmart them. Take that, fraudsters!
We also have strategies to ensure all B.C. seniors receive equitable and inclusive services. Recent research shows 19% of adult immigrants in Canada are lonely and elders face fractured access to healthcare, transportation and more. On March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we invite you to create more welcoming communities and check out the resources offered.
Part 3 of our Facebook Users’ series gives tips on engaging with and growing your audience. We also introduce you to Eva Navrot, BC CRN’s newly appointed Regional Mentor for Cariboo and Chilcotin. Eva’s region comprises of three CRNs that serve 100 Mile House, William’s Lake and Quesnel, including 16 First Nations communities.
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Eva Navrot, Regional Mentor Cariboo, Chilcotin
Eva is BC CRN’s newly appointed Regional Mentor for Cariboo and Chilcotin since February 1, 2024. Eva has been working with the BC CRN since 2021 when she was volunteering at the Senior’s Activity Centre. To say Eva Navrot is active in her community of Williams Lake is a bit of an understatement. When she isn’t working at the Seniors Activity Centre, volunteering with the emergency operations and response team, or tutoring new immigrants in English, you’ll find her out on the local trails or in an aquafit class.
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CRNs in the Community: Spreading Love and Building Capacity
February is a month to show kindness and care – and our wonderful CRNs showed lots of both last month. In February, we held some community-specific activities for Chinese, Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ and Francophone seniors, honouring their cultural needs while providing key services. We also sent lots of Valentine’s love across B.C., with events, gifts, treats and educational resources to CRNs from the coast to the Alberta border and from the Lower Mainland to Kitimat. We are very grateful to all the seniors and vulnerable adults who welcome us so warmly.
Read more for highlights from around the province.
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JQT Seniors Initiative - 2024 Outreach Survey
The JQT Seniors Initiative is a Community Response Network of Jewish, LGBTQ+ and seniors healthcare organizations, spearheaded by JQT Vancouver (a volunteer-run Jewish queer trans nonprofit) since 2021.
In April 2023, the initiative launched the B.C. Jewish Queer & Trans Seniors Resource Guide to address knowledge gaps regarding Jewish, LGBTQ and healthcare concerns for older Jewish queer and/or trans people across B.C.
Please take a 5-minute survey to help their initiative find out who is caring for Jewish queer trans seniors in B.C., so they can focus our time and energy with those serving this population with additional support and training.
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How to Use Facebook: Let’s Engage - Reaching and Growing Your Audience
Facebook engagement is similar for personal, private groups or business pages – the point is to successfully connect with your community. Whether it’s friends and family, a local network of people with common goals or a more global community you want to reach, content and engagement is the key. In this edition of our series, we’ve gathered a few of the top tips to share with you and decoded some terms to help you reach and grow your audience.
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Strategies to Beat AI Voice Cloning Used for Grandparent Scams and More
Grandparent scams are more successful than ever thanks to new technology that uses AI to copy the voices of your loved ones. A sample from any social media account may be enough to enable voice cloning that can be used to fool family members that their loved ones are in crisis. March is Fraud Awareness Month and we offer you a few simple strategies to fight fraud like a pro.
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Aging Immigrants in Canada: Higher Rates of Loneliness, Housing Disparity and More
Perhaps it was COVID-19, or maybe the 2020 UN declaration of The Decade of Healthy Ageing, but the world is awakening to the challenges faced by aging immigrants. As immigrants age and need additional services, it’s clear that disparities exist between native-born and foreign-born Canadians. Culturally appropriate, equitable opportunities for socialization, healthcare, housing, disability services are fewer and more difficult to access for immigrants aging in Canada. But there are resources if you know how to find them.
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Provincial Learning Event: Behind the Wheel – Navigating Road Safety as We Age
March 19, 2024 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm PST
Speaker: Kathleen Nadalin, ICBC Road Safety Coordinator
You are invited to join BC CRN’s March online Provincial Learning Event. BC CRN is pleased to welcome Kathleen Nadalin who will be providing tips to help aging drivers stay safe on the road. Learn how to support older adults with valuable driver safety information including: driving today, self-assessment, assessing driver fitness, the Enhanced Road Assessment (ERA), tips for seniors & refresher of rules of the road, and staying mobile!
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It’s Not Right! Online Workshop
March 5, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT
You are invited to join us for this dynamic online workshop. Learn how to recognize the warning signs of abuse among older adults and determine how to respond safely and supportively. True to life scenarios are explored to facilitate discussions and to build skills.
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See Something, Say Something! Online Presentation
April 2, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
You are invited to join us for this dynamic online presentation. The See Something, Say Something! Reducing Risk for Older Adults program is designed to help identify high-risk adults, particularly those who live alone and who may be isolated. Everyone can play an important role in the community in keeping others safe, secure, and independent.
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We're interested in hearing from you!
We welcome your feedback, story ideas, and photos for consideration in a future edition.
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BC CRN acknowledges the generous financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
For more on the BC CRN and our free programs, visit us at | bccrns.ca.
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