Okanagan Embraces Aging Month with Wellness Events

What Is Embrace Aging Month?

March is Embrace Aging Month in the Okanagan — and UBC Okanagan (UBCO) is ready to celebrate in a big way. This annual initiative brings together researchers, health professionals, and community members to support healthy, positive aging across the Okanagan Valley.

The effort began over 13 years ago, when health researchers at UBCO developed a plan to help people age well. Since then, the campus has joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network and established an Aging In Place Research Cluster. Today, Embrace Aging Month is one of the region’s most anticipated community health programs.

Dr. Eric Li, Professor in the Faculty of Management and Interim Director of the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, leads the initiative. He believes aging deserves celebration, not fear.

Why Aging Well Matters Now

A Global Aging Crisis Is Coming

The world’s population is getting older — fast. By 2050, experts expect more than two billion people over the age of 60 to live across the globe. Consequently, communities and health systems must prepare now to keep this population healthy, independent, and engaged.

Canada’s Okanagan region is no exception. The valley’s older adult population grows each year. Moreover, chronic disease, social isolation, and limited access to health information remain major challenges for many seniors.

UBCO Takes a Proactive Approach

Rather than waiting for health problems to arise, UBCO actively promotes prevention through education. The Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention partners with Interior Health to deliver Embrace Aging Month each year. Together, they offer practical tools and the latest research to seniors, families, and caregivers alike.

“Our population is aging at an unprecedented rate,” Dr. Li notes. “We need to keep this population healthy and independent for as long as possible.”

Furthermore, the sessions target people of all ages — not just seniors. Younger adults benefit too, as they learn how to support aging parents, plan for their own futures, and understand the resources available to them.

Events and Activities Happening in March

In-Person Events Across the Okanagan

Embrace Aging Month kicks off on March 1 and runs through the entire month. Participants can attend a wide range of in-person events, including:

• Memory Café – March 2, a welcoming space for those living with memory loss and their caregivers
• Hearing Loss Sessions – practical workshops on managing hearing challenges
• Estate Planning – guidance on protecting your assets and planning your future
• Fraud Prevention – tips to protect older adults from financial scams
• Weekly Walks – group walks that combine fitness with social connection
• Bridge and Line Dancing Lessons – fun ways to stay mentally and physically active
• E-Biking and Tai Chi – opportunities to try low-impact, high-benefit activities

Each event focuses on building skills, reducing isolation, and improving the quality of life for older adults and their support networks.

Webinars for Learning from Home

Not everyone can attend in person. Therefore, UBCO also offers a series of online webinars covering topics such as:

• Vaccine awareness and preventive health
• Fall and injury prevention strategies
• Healthy cooking for older adults

These webinars allow participants from across the region to join from the comfort of home, removing barriers to access.

Government Benefits Sessions for Older Adults

Know What You’re Entitled To

Many older Canadians miss out on benefits simply because they don’t know they exist. This March, Service Canada and Revenue Canada run dedicated sessions to close that gap.

Topics include:

• Canadian Dental Plan – eligibility and how to apply
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) – understanding your entitlements
• Old Age Security (OAS) – how to maximize your retirement income
• Disability Benefits – support available for those living with disabilities

These sessions are free, accessible, and open to anyone who wants to better understand their rights and options.

How to Register and Get Involved

Open to Everyone

Embrace Aging Month welcomes participants of all ages. Whether you are a senior, a caregiver, a family member, or simply someone curious about healthy aging, there is something here for you.

“March brings into focus the importance of supporting older adults in our communities,” says Dr. Li. “We’re providing a month full of events and activities with helpful information and the latest research that is relevant to anyone at any age.”

Find Your Events

Additionally, UBCO’s Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention continues to expand its aging research year-round, so bookmark the site for updates beyond March as well.

Embrace Aging Month is more than a series of events. It is a community movement to shift how society views growing older — from something to fear into something to celebrate. Thanks to UBCO and Interior Health, the Okanagan leads the way in making that vision a reality.