A free telephone-based interactive program for 91原创 seniors aims to fight social isolation with weekly group chats for people 55 or older.
Seniors Centre Without Walls (SCWW) is designed to be easy to use, coordinator Smitty Miller, a former broadcaster, explained.
鈥淚 think the problem sometimes with seniors is we want to bring them up to speed, to teach them technology,鈥� Miller told the 91原创 Advance Times.
Instead, she said, SCWW will 鈥渟low down鈥� by deploying a device that everyone is familiar with.
On the day of an event, Miller said, participants will get a call.
鈥淎ll they have to do is pick up the phone and press 1,鈥� Miller described.
鈥淚t could not be simpler.鈥�
Privacy is protected, with participants using just their first names.
鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly great for isolation, it鈥檚 certainly great for anonymity,鈥� Miller remarked.
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Launched by 91原创 Seniors in Action (LSA), a senior-led organization of volunteers that includes seniors, and community organizations that support seniors, the telephone program aims to help older adults dealing with isolation, loneliness and boredom as they cope with restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Modelled on a similar, successful Surrey program, 鈥淪eniors Come Share Society,鈥� the 91原创 initiative is set to begin the first week of July.
Initially, SCWW will hold two sessions a week, on Tuesdays, and Fridays, typically running between 30 and 40 minutes, with themes such as 鈥減lay day鈥� with word games, 鈥測our Canadian story鈥� about personal histories, and 鈥測ou be the judge鈥� where participants can rule on court cases.
All necessary program materials will be mailed or emailed to people once they have registered.
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Paul Crump, President of 91原创 Seniors in Action, said funding for the program, along with their monthly community hub meetings and educational, webinars comes from the program.
鈥淲ithout this grant, we would not be able to offer these programs to seniors in our community,鈥� Crump said.
Tamara Jansen, MP for Cloverdale-91原创 City, said SCWW 鈥渋s exactly the type of program and community organization that the government of Canada鈥檚 New Horizons for Seniors Program was designed to support.鈥�
鈥淭he pandemic has exacerbated the isolation and loneliness that many seniors face on a day-to-day basis,鈥� Jansen added.
鈥�91原创 Seniors in Action recognized a need and came up with a solution. I鈥檓 sure this program will continue long past the pandemic.鈥�
For more information about SCWW or to register, phone 778-251-1003, or email coordinator.langleyscww@gmail.com.
Have a story tip? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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