Latest news with #dignity
CTV News
7 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Halifax university hosts conference on the future of aging
A two-day conference in Halifax will explore how people can age with dignity and equity. The third edition of the 'Our Future is Aging' conference will be held at Mount Saint Vincent University on Tuesday and Wednesday. Major speakers include Dr. Anne Martin-Matthews from the University of British Columbia and Dr. Charlene Chu from the University of Toronto. 'With over 75 oral and poster presentations, the conference promises a dynamic and multidisciplinary program,' a news release reads. 'Topics will range from health and caregiving to housing, policy, technology and beyond.' Previous editions of the conference were held in 2012 and 2016. 'As Canada's population grows older, the questions being asked at this conference matter more than ever, not just for researchers and policymakers, but for families, caregivers and communities across the country,' the release reads. More to come… For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Shapiro announces PA's designation as an age-friendly state by AARP
May 30—WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro this week announced that Pennsylvania has officially been designated as an "Age-Friendly State" by AARP, marking a major milestone in his administration's work to make the Commonwealth a place where older Pennsylvanians can live and age with dignity, independence and support. The governor made the announcement at the White Rose Senior Center in York, where he was joined by Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich, local officials, community leaders and partners from AARP and the United Way. "My administration is fighting for Pennsylvanians every day, and that includes investing in and building a Commonwealth that cares for and supports older adults," Shapiro said. "Our seniors have earned the right to age with dignity and respect, and, under my administration, we created a 10-year master plan that brings together 29 state agencies to deliver real results for our seniors — from expanding access to home care and transportation to cutting their taxes through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program to increasing transparency and accountability of the local organizations that provide protective services." Pennsylvania's designation comes at a pivotal moment. By 2030, one in three Pennsylvanians will be over the age of 60, with the Commonwealth's older adult population expected to reach 3.8 million — outnumbering every other age group. The Age-Friendly designation, awarded by AARP in partnership with the World Health Organization, recognizes states and communities committed to being great places to grow up and grow older. Pennsylvania is now one of just 13 states nationwide — and the only new state this year — to receive this distinction. "Pennsylvania's aging population provides us with an opportunity — not a challenge — to build better communities for all generations," Kavulich said. "The Aging Our Way, PA plan reflects our commitment to making sure older adults have the services, respect, and support they deserve. Thanks to Governor Shapiro's leadership, we're working across agencies and with community partners to make every town, city, and neighborhood more age-friendly." Walsh to host grant seminars Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, this week announced he will host two grant seminars for municipalities and organizations to learn how to apply for funding to help continue their service to communities in the 117th Legislative District. The seminars will be held on Thursday, June 12. —The first will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Back Mountain Regional E.M.A. Building, 3593 State Route 118, Dallas. —The second will be from 2-4 p.m. at the Sugarloaf Township Municipal Building, 858 Main St., Sugarloaf Township. "Grants play a significant role in facilitating projects that shape our communities for current and future residents," Walsh said. "I am glad to provide this opportunity for my constituents to learn more about the process of locating and applying for grants." Attendees will hear from Paul Macknosky, regional director with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, as well as Tyler Day, community and economic development manager with Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. Registrations are required. Contact Walsh's Dallas office at 570-675-6000 or his Sugarloaf Township office at 570-359-2138 for information and to reserve a seat. PSP reports Memorial Day weekend data As part of an ongoing mission to strengthen roadway safety across the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania State Police this week released the results of its Memorial Day weekend enforcement detail. During the four days between May 23-26, PSP investigated 756 crashes that resulted in 140 injuries and five fatalities. Intoxicated driving was a factor in 57 of those crashes — two of which were fatal. Troopers arrested 519 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and they issued 27,139 citations, including: —7,033 for speeding —977 for failing to wear a seat belt —166 for not securing children in safety seats. These statistics cover only those incidents investigated by the State Police and do not include incidents to which other law enforcement agencies responded. State launches resource to support unpaid caregivers Kavulich this week launched the PA CareKit — a resource to support caregivers including spouses, adult children, and grandparents raising grandchildren — that provides training, connection to respite services, and personalized tools to help informal caregivers address their unique situations. The PA CareKit offers an array of person-centered support like personalized and tailored resource guides, and resources for families to evaluate and select professional caregivers. The development of the PA CareKit started in August 2024 and took nine months to complete. It is the result of year one of implementing Aging Our Way, PA — a 10-year plan to improve the infrastructure of aging services. "When designing the plan, caregivers indicated they needed more tools and resources to maintain the level of care for their loved ones to remain in their homes and communities," Kavulich said. "The PA CareKit is an innovative tool that will help make the caregiving process easier for both the person providing the care and their loved one." In 2023, Shapiro directed PDA to produce Aging Our Way, PA, and his 2025-26 budget proposal includes a $3 million investment for year two implementation of the plan. During this time-frame, the Department will focus on modernizing and strengthening the PA Link, which serves as Pennsylvania's Aging and Disability Resource Center network, designed to streamline access to long-term services and supports. The PA Link facilitates collaboration among Pennsylvania's 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Centers for Independent Living, and other community-based organizations to ensure seamless service delivery across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania is the fifth oldest state in the nation by population. With this growing population, the Commonwealth will need more caregivers to support older adults so they can remain in their homes and communities while aging with the dignity and respect they deserve. Print materials from the PA CareKit will be available for free at community libraries, the AAAs and Senior Community Centers across the Commonwealth. The Department of Aging's Caregiver Support Program also provides supports to caregivers — including those who care for older adults, grandparents raising grandchildren, and older caregivers of adults living with a disability — with the purpose of alleviating stress and promoting well-being to help sustain a healthy ongoing caregiving relationship. Learn about other services and supports that PDA provides by visiting the Department's website. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
News24
4 days ago
- Business
- News24
SPAR fights period poverty with affordable menstrual care
About seven million South African women are held captive by 'period poverty' and face potential long-term consequences that begin with missing school and later lead to lost educational and employment opportunities, says SPAR South Africa, which announced today (date to be inserted) that it is launching a practical national campaign to help women have access to affordable hygiene products. From May 28, designated as Menstrual Hygiene Day worldwide, SPAR will support menstrual health for women by ensuring that, for under R100 per year (on average R6 per month), girls and women can access sanitary towels at SPAR stores throughout South Africa, says Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications & Sponsorships Manager at The SPAR Group. The offer will continue until further notice says Maubane, stressing that the objective is part of SPAR's commitment to helping promote the dignity of all South African women by working to bring an end to period poverty by 2030. 'Presently, about 30% of the nation's girls miss school regularly because they can't afford menstrual hygiene products. Each girl misses about 50 days of schooling a year, placing her at a learning disadvantage. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of basic sanitation and toilets in more than 1,700 schools, where shortages of running water and soap are also common.' 'We are dedicated to implementing practical interventions by making sanitary products affordable and easily accessible. At the same time, we support ongoing efforts to normalise conversations around menstruation, a subject often avoided or regarded as taboo in many sectors of society.' As a community-based retailer, SPAR is committed to supporting the health and dignity of all women and girls. Breaking the stigma requires the involvement of everyone. SPAR is determined to lead the way by promoting discussions about what is a natural feminine function, and by fostering understanding and support, finding ways to address the issues of period poverty in schools and workplaces, stresses Maubane. 'By enabling girls and women, especially those who face financial challenges, to buy quality pads at a price that will fit even the tightest household budgets, SPAR South Africa is proud to be fostering the development of an inclusive society in which women can take their rightful places without being held back by something as natural as menstruation,' says Maubane. For Further information about the SPAR campaign and ways to contribute to ending period poverty in South Africa, visit
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Devastating repercussions of calling out misbehaviour at work
I'm writing in response to Gaby Hinsliff's column (White men are apparently terrified of doing the wrong thing at work. I have some advice, 26 May). I was sexually assaulted at work by a man twice my age – my boss. I reported it to my company and to the police. I pursued legal justice. I spoke openly about what had happened. And I lost my job and haven't worked since. This isn't from a lack of trying. I would love to be working again. I'm a well-educated woman in my 30s – I have a postgraduate degree, I've worked for the Foreign Office and the BBC, I speak Arabic and French. I've been working since I was 13. Even as I changed countries and careers in my 20s, I was never unemployed – until now. I've applied for hundreds of roles. I've networked. Nothing sticks. My hunch is that when prospective employers Google me and find my name linked to a story of sexual violence at work, the conclusion is swift: she's trouble, or she's troubled. The great irony is that I believe I'm far less trouble or troubled than I would be had I stayed silent – this stuff festers if you swallow it. Speaking up wasn't about getting my own back and it wasn't about wallowing. I made an impossibly hard choice to protect my dignity. Women should be allowed to work without betraying themselves to get it. I agree with Gaby that some of the anxiety that Tim Samuels identifies is real, but it should be some relief to those behind the YouTube show that he presents, White Men Can't Work!, that, time and time again, men who are called out for bad behaviour in the workplace bounce back. It's the women who had the courage to call them out who suffer the devastating professional fallout. If you publish this, please keep me anonymous, as my days of believing it's empowering to speak up are long gone. Name and address supplied It's easy to sneer about white men being discriminated against at work. But I've been in precisely that situation myself on two occasions – once in a civil service department and once at a charity. On both occasions, the discrimination, which was humiliating and hurtful, was perpetrated by white women in positions of power. I suppose I could have just accepted it, as Gaby Hinsliff suggests, by acknowledging that others suffered much more (which was undoubtedly true), but I felt forced to leave the job instead. The experience has had a profound and lasting effect on my and address supplied What I find objectionable in Gaby Hinsliff's piece is the treatment of white men as some kind of homogeneous group. As if the combination of whiteness and maleness alone confer privilege. Some white men are indeed very privileged and have a sense of that privilege being diminished, as Ms Hinsliff suggests. Other white men are very far from privileged. White males are greatly overrepresented among those failing at school, among the homeless living on the streets, among those injured and killed in industrial accidents or through self-destructive reckless behaviour, among the isolated and lonely, and among those who take their own lives. Hinsliff writes: 'So if white men genuinely don't think work is working for them, welcome to the club, boys. Just don't forget that some of us have been here rather longer than you.' For many white working-class men (and black men too), it's not just work – the education system, the criminal justice system and social structures have never worked for them. They don't need to be told to check their BoothCanterbury
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Am I Struggling Over My Mother's Alzheimer's More Than She Is?
Entering the nursing-home unit where my mother now lives is like entering a painting by Blake or Goya. Residents are hunched over their chairs, their ghostly heads down and mouths hanging open. Some wear mitten-like slippers, but my mother refuses them. Dignity is still important to her. My mother, Iris, is here because she is in the last stages of Alzheimer's. My sisters and I trade off seeing her as much as possible because we know that, even in her diminished state, she lives for our visits.
