Older adults facing social isolation during COVID-19 will soon be able to take advantage of a Seniors’ Centre Without Walls in the district.
It is a phone-based program that allows people to dial-in using their home phones, free of charge, and connect to programming that includes music, trivia, or educational sessions.
Seniors’ Centre Without Walls is a community outreach program designed to support vulnerable and isolated seniors and adults with physical disabilities who may find it difficult to leave home for extended periods of time due to financial constraints or mobility issues.
Now, due to COVID-19 restrictions, older adults who might normally be active in the community but now are unable to leave their home, can benefit from this program.
Micheline McWhirter is the Project Manager of The Village Collective Impact Project.

She says the project is for people who are feeling isolated at home and need to interact with their fellow seniors.

“It’s a huge issue because in the long term the effects of isolation are dramatic to a persons health as someone smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” she says.
The Village at Canadore College wants to create a regional hub and provide ongoing placement opportunities for Canadore students in a variety of programs.
They include Recreation and Leisure Services, Social Service Worker, and Indigenous Wellness and Addiction Prevention programs to name a few.
Officials say there will also be opportunities for older adults and students to socialize together.

“That means we’re providing programming but inter generational programming which is a very new way to approach social isolation for seniors,” McWhirter says.

McWhirter says their project is very timely.

“Before COVID-19 people didn’t realize how needed this type of programming was. And I think it’s brought to light how important it is to have it as a community,” she says.

The president of the Club Action 50+ East Ferris Group, Lyne Way-White, contacted Canadore for support to implement a Seniors’ Centre Without Walls for club members.
“Our club had been discussing the need to establish this program in East Ferris for the past year but with the COVID pandemic the isolation issue became more pressing,” said Way-White. “Finding someone to run this programming was now urgent.”
The Club Action 50+ East Ferris Group is the pilot group and has been testing the system.
“We will be reaching out to community groups, businesses and individuals to provide the 30- to 60-minute program sessions,” said McWhirter, “After the testing phase is completed in July, a full calendar of events will be advertised, and anyone 55 or older will be able to register with Seniors’ Centre Without Walls and engage in free programming.”
To register for the program or for more information on The Village SCWW – Regional Hub, contact: Micheline McWhirter, Project Manager- The Village Collective Impact Project at Micheline.mcwhirter@canadorecollege.ca or at 705-358-2829 or follow this link https://www.canadorecollege.ca/the-village/impact-project/seniors-centre

(photo by station staff)

 

Filed under: Canadore College, Micheline McWhirter, Seniors' Centre Without Walls