Pathways for Older Adults
A grantee of Connecticut Community Foundation, the Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury’s community center is where older adults from 60 to 93 find that age is no barrier to new skills. Story.
History
Grants that help older adults thrive are made possible by the East Hill Woods Fund at Connecticut Community Foundation, established in November 2009 with a contribution of $9.2 million through the sale of East Hill Woods.
As a field of interest fund, the East Hill Woods Fund provides grants to nonprofits and municipalities that offer services and opportunities for older adults living in the Foundation’s service area. A portion of the fund is also designated to train and educate future managers of senior living communities.
Purpose of Grants
To help people in our region age successfully and remain healthy, informed and engaged. Grant funding is also provided to local communities to help them prepare for the aging of the population.
Our grants to organizations working to improve quality of life for older adults typically fall into one of these general categories:
- Healthy aging
- Connecting with information, benefits and resources
- Aging successfully and safely in the community
- Education, arts and creative expression
- Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors): A citywide collaboration
- Engaging older adults in addressing community needs
- Intergenerational projects
Possible Projects
- Develop core programs and adopt best practices that connect older adults with benefits, services and opportunities; assist with chores, home maintenance and home safety; enhance health and fitness; and build age-friendly communities that promote civic engagement and full participation for all ages.
- Hold a Town Conversation on Aging, open to the public, to discuss services, resources and opportunities for older adults in the town, identify needs and gaps, and prioritize action steps for the next several years. A $2,000 grant is available to each town in the Foundation’s service area for these conversations.
- Connect more people over age 65+ to their libraries through Lifelong Libraries grants. Program possibilities include health, wellness, education, arts, creative expression, technology, financial security, intergenerational, and more.
- Collaborative programs that enhance services in a cost-effective manner are prioritized. Examples include a fitness program that rotates among towns and development of a coordinated transportation system.
Information and Resources
Pathways for Older Adults grant proposals are accepted twice annually. Review the guidelines then apply by completing the general grant application (for proposals over $3,000) or the Pathways mini-grant application (for proposals of $3,000 or less). See Previous Pathways for Older Adults Grantees
