Gaia Cares Seniors Community Hub
Background
Over the years, Chinatown in Vancouver has lacked adequate gathering spaces for seniors, leaving them isolated and reluctant to participate in community activities. Security concerns, poor hygiene, and a lack of accessible facilities exacerbate this isolation. Many seniors find themselves confined to their homes, lacking the opportunity to socialize and participate in meaningful activities outside of their immediate surroundings. To address these challenges, we are establishing a day program to provide a safe and comfortable space where seniors can socialize and enjoy activities within the community. Our program aims to foster a sense of belonging and community among seniors, promoting happiness and dignity in their everyday lives. Through this initiative, we seek to empower seniors to actively engage with their neighbors and enjoy their golden years with pride, fulfillment and joy.
Goal: Develop an age-friendly community
Objectives:
1) Provide a supportive environment where seniors can connect with peers, share experiences, and build friendships to combat social isolation.
2) Enhance the quality of life of seniors, especially on physical and mental well-being
3) Facilitate access to supportive community services.
4) Offer linguistically and culturally appropriate services for Chinese seniors living in Chinatown.
Date and Time: Every Thursday (Starting from May 9) 10am-3pm
Address: 499 East Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1V2
EDUCATIONAL TALKS
- Traditional Medicine TCM
- Physical & Emotional Health
- Self-Care
- Gaia Kitchen
- Life and Death
- Introduction to smartphone
FALL PREVENTION
- Fall Risk Assessment
- Fall Prevention Exercise
INTEREST GROUPS
- Mahjong
- Table Games for cognitive training
- Karaoke
- Art and Craft
- Table Tennis training for eye hand coordination* (extra charges may apply)
SYSTEM NAVIGATION
- Translation / Interpretation
- Case Management
- Service Referral
- Caregiver Support
- Community Resources
Video highlights of Seniors Community Hub
September 19, 2024
The Community Garden of Seniors Community Hub has already launched and it is our honour to have Joan Philip, former MLA and Lilian and Rowena Kwan, Director of CSDS to host. It is hoped that the flower, fruit and vegetables can bring joy and happiness for every seniors come here on every Thursday. This project started at April and gets done after over five months. It depends on the efforts of volunteers and Uncle Kau, a 90+ retired gardener who help guide the volunteers to remove the weed and plants different flowers and vegetables.
June 27, 2024
It is excited to announce Gaia Care is building a Community Garden for seniors living in Chinatown of Vancouver. With the aid of Uncle Kau who is a retired gardener and SRO resident in Chinatown, Volunteer and staff of Gaia Cares learn how to use different gardening tools and spray herbicide in a safe way. Amy, one of our volunteer, said she learned gardening only when she was a primary school student. She feels it is a wonderful experience to pick up shovel and hoe and take part in this project.
May 23, 2024
We are proud to have volunteers helping Senior Community Hub in Chinatown. Since its opening on early May, Chinese residents living nearby come regularly and enjoy different activities we provided. Today(23rd) one of our volunteer, Shirley hosted an interest group and let seniors have a taste on Alcoholic Ink Art which is a fluid art technique that uses alcohol ink by dropping them directly to the appropriate medium. It is a fun way to paint and create art with no prior experience required.
May 16, 2024
Senior Community Hub just had a first full day of operation. Seniors created their first painting at our harmonious pastel class. Our volunteer instructor Howard also passed on some beginner techniques to the table tennis participants. Other seniors also joined our Fall Prevention class and enjoyed singing many oldies songs at the Karaoke corner. We hope more seniors will join us every Thursday!
May 9, 2024 - Opening Day
Senior Community Hub starts operating today (9th) and seniors from different SROs arrive there in between 10:00am-3:00pm. They play table tennis, board games and karaoke. They enjoy much and express they will come on next Thursday again.
Membership is required to join the Seniors Community Hub. Please click below to register. Our staff will contact you to confirm your membership.