United Way BC – Digital Learning & Active Aging Plus

United Way BC Healthy Aging administers grants and manages programs that provide exceptional quality-of-life benefits to seniors, helping them stay Active, Connected, and Engaged! 

United Way BC’s Healthy Aging portfolio oversees seven provincial community grants and programs: Better at Home, Family & Friend Caregiver Supports, Social Prescribing, Therapeutic Activation Programs for Seniors (TAPS), Social Meals, Volunteer Coordination & Supports, and Aging in Motion (AIM): Transportation Supports & Innovations.

Contact Information

Website Link: uwbc.ca/program/healthy-aging/

Email: info@uwbc.ca

Phone Number: 604 294 8929

Locations: 4543 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 4T4

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Healthy Aging Programs

Better at Home

United Way BC’s Better at Home program is dedicated to helping seniors and Elders manage day-to-day tasks, enabling them to maintain their independence within the comfort of their homes while staying closely connected to their communities.

Therapeutic Activation programs for Seniors (TAPS)

The Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors (TAPS) brings together older adults through specially tailored group activities that engage the body, mind, and spirit. This structured program aims to provide therapeutic and captivating experiences for seniors, particularly those facing physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges. Its overarching objective is to elevate the quality of life, foster independence, and promote overall well-being among seniors.

Family & Friend Caregiver Supports

The Family & Friend Caregiver Supports program is specifically designed to aid caregivers who offer unpaid care for older adults living in the community with higher needs, including chronic disease, frailty, or life-limiting conditions.

Social Prescribing

Social Prescribing represents a healthcare approach that recognizes the profound impact of social and environmental factors on a person’s well-being. This approach involves connecting older adults with non-medical services and activities in their community, and they can be referred to a community-based Social Prescribing program by their primary care physician or other health practitioner.

Social Meals

The Social Meals program combines nutritious meal sharing experiences with opportunities for older adults to engage socially. These initiatives may include drop-in programs that offer a hot lunch for seniors, providing both a nourishing meal and the chance for enriching conversation and community interaction, or in-home shared meals with volunteers. Each setting is thoughtfully designed to help older adults maintain meaningful social connections while continuing to live independently in their homes and communities.

Volunteer Coordination & Support

In communities where recruiting and retaining volunteers presents a challenge, the Volunteer Coordination & Support grant stream provides targeted solutions. This program introduces dedicated roles focused on enhancing local volunteer engagement through strategic recruitment and retention efforts. These roles also support increased participation on United Way BC iVolunteer and contribute to the co-development of regional and provincial strategies aimed at advancing volunteerism within the Community-Based Seniors’ Services (CBSS) sector.  

Aging in Motion (AIM): Transportation Supports & Innovations

The Aging in Motion (AIM): Transportation Supports & Innovation program delivers local and regional transportation services that help older adults live independently and stay connected to their communities. These services enable seniors to meet daily needs, attend medical and health-related appointments, and participate in social, recreational, cultural, and educational activities—particularly in areas where transportation options are limited or unavailable.