Three community groups in the Kamloops area are receiving money to help transport seniors.

The Chase Community Services Society and the Scw’exmx Community Health Services Society in Merritt have each been granted $115,000 from the province to buy new busses.

“I’m the federal Health Critic for the NDP Party. One thing that I learned very early on, is that the number-one correlation to seniors’ health is connection. It’s not our healthcare system as important as that is… the number-one thing that keeps a senior healthy and active in our communities is to be connected,” Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies says.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix says a improving transportation for seniors can prevent social isolation.

“Those came as recommendations from Interior Health. We wanted to ensure those services are found around the province; in a community such as Chase for seniors there, having access to bus service, access to medical appointments, access to senior services are I think particularly important. And those came as recommendations from Interior Health.”

The Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society also has been given $2,000 to buy aluminum steps, which will help seniors get in and out of busses.

In total the province today announced $1.23 million in funding for senior transportation across the province.