Page 2 - Brandon Sun - Retirement 2021

B2 retirement 2021 westman this week the BranDOn sUn n Thursday February 11 2021
n
n
vARIOUS EFFORTS ernment, the program can be accessed through SEARCordinator@ to health restrictions.
Funded by United Way Brandon & District and the federal gov-
Like Prairie Oasis, Seniors for Seniors is closed to the public due
prairieoasis.ca or 204-596-1176. Seniors are at the high-risk end of the spectrum when it comes
Funding for the line runs out at the end of March, at which point to pandemic health effects, and most of them are taking the lock-
REACH OUT Todd points seniors to the Age Friendly Brandon Telephone Infor- down seriously as a result.
mation Line at 204-729-2525, which is currently staffed weekdays
“The main (call) I get is, ‘When can I get a vaccination?’ That
from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
seems to be a real concern, so I just share with them what’s in the
TO SENIORS line was originally created to offer an easy-to-access database of papers or what’s on the radio that morning,” Schonewille said.
Age Friendly Brandon board member Susan Boyachek said the
Others just want to chat, which typically lasts around the 15-min-
ute mark.
activities and resources for seniors.
“We do have a nice talk and I tell them to call back anytime,” she
But with very little going on as a result of ongoing health restric-
IN ISOLATION tions, it has served a very different purpose since it launched a few said.
Efforts such as this are important, she said, as she has noticed
months ago.
“With activities being very limited, especially in-person, the tele-
“When you’re down, you just don’t feel like doing anything, and
phone line in itself is a way to connect with people,” she said. many seniors’ health deteriorate over the course of the past year.
BY TYLER CLARKE
So far, they’ve only been getting between 10 and 20 calls per then you’re more apt to sleep and just haven’t got that energy, and
Social isolation, loneliness and depression are ongoing concerns month, but she said it’s still 10 to 20 more people who got linked we’re all like that regardless of whatever our age is,” she said.
when it comes to seniors, but they’re of much greater prominence with resources and a social contact, which she considers an early Being around other people and socializing — which they can’t do
lately. success. right now — typically gives people the lift they need.
“They’re not doing well,” Prairie Oasis Senior Centre executive The friendly voice on the other side of the line is Seniors for Se- Schonewille said they’re trying out a number of ways to reach
director Steve Todd said. niors executive director Margaret Schonewille. out.
“They are less engaged when you talk to them — they’re more Between these conversations and those with Seniors for Seniors A curbside lending library for books and puzzles has been active,
withdrawn, and I think that’s because of long-term isolation.” regulars, she said it’s safe to say seniors, in general, are struggling. they’ve put together gift baskets for seniors and host a weekly meal
Just about everything has been shuttered during level red restric- program called Dinner is Served.
tions, Todd said, and Prairie Oasis is no exception. “We were concerned that seniors weren’t going to eat or couldn’t
They were able to operate at limited capacity during level orange, go to the store and things with everything happening so suddenly,”
but he’d be reluctant to reopen any time soon, even if the govern- Schonewille said.
ment OK’d it. Last week saw 330 meals go out, which cost seniors $10 and are
“With that new (COVID-19) variant … I really think it’s going to delivered free of charge by Royal LePage staff, who have been at it
take off again, which is unfortunate,” Todd said. “Rather than open since the pandemic started in March 2020.
and close again, I’m going to keep motoring through with limited In addition to receiving the meal, she said the delivery offers
contact.” recipients the opportunity to chat with the delivery person and
This limited contact has resulted in many seniors’ only connec- something to look forward to each week.
tion with people being through the Meals on Wheels program, Seniors for Seniors is also in the process of starting up a walking
which Prairie Oasis continues to operate. buddy program so they have someone to walk with, alongside oth-
Volunteer delivery person Eleanor McCallum said this is unfor- er efforts.
tunate, since she delivers seven to 14 meals in a single hour, so Schonewille encourages anyone interested in these programs, or
contact is limited. in receiving a dose of soul-enriching human contact, to call the Age
“You’re on such a short timeframe that you don’t have a lot of Friendly Brandon Telephone Information Line at 204-729-2525.
time to chat, but I try to access how well they’re doing.”
These visits have become even shorter and less personal during » tclarke@brandonsun.com
the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, adding they’re currently limited
to brief contact at their front door while wearing a mask. » Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
To help stay in contact with seniors, Prairie Oasis has also been
running the Seniors’ Engagement and Referral Program, which of- Seniors for Seniors executive director Margaret Schonewille is
fers seniors someone to talk to by email, phone, FaceTime or limit- the friendly voice behind the Age Friendly Brandon Telephone
ed in-person limits at the centre or a public place. Information Line. (Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun)

COOkING THROUGH THE COvID-19 pANDEMIC

With most social activities going by the wayside, why not give own home and work with them,” Schonewille said, adding that
cooking a go? during pre-COVID times they’d visit with them in person, but
Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. has released the now they bring them books or puzzles to help keep them stim-
“Cooking Through the COVID-19 Pandemic” cookbook in part- ulated.
nership with Healthy Together Now/Healthy Brandon. They also phone people “just to bring some people into their
Executive director Margaret Schonewille said the majority of lives.”
contributors have been local seniors, and there’s “quite a vari- Books can be ordered by calling 204-571-2050 or by drop-
ety” of recipes in the $10 book. ping by 311 Park Ave. East between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. during
Proceeds from the book go toward the Anti-Aging Isolation weekdays.
program.
“We check in and we try to find seniors who are living in their » The Brandon Sun

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