It’s Seniors Week! Seniors are a vital part of our communities. They are our parents and grandparents, mentors and friends, neighbours and community members, employees and employers, and they make a difference in all of our lives. Even if we can’t do it in person, we want to recognize, celebrate, and support seniors this week. For each day of Seniors Week, we are sharing suggestions for ways you can support the seniors in your life safely and responsibly.
1. Keep connected
During these challenging times, it is so important to connect with your elderly loved ones, neighbours, and community members. Many of them are socially isolated which can have detrimental effects on their health and well-being. Fortunately, there are many innovative ways to connect with seniors safely and responsibly. Here are a few!
2. Ask about their needs and offer assistance
You can support the seniors in your life and community by checking on them and offering your assistance! The first step is determining what their needs are – so ask them! Once you know this you can then figure out how to help! Here are some ideas to get you started!
It’s important to remember that many seniors don’t have family members checking in on them and they may not have anyone to turn to for assistance. Small gestures by neighbours or community members can go a long way in these cases! Leave a note outside an elderly person’s door with your phone number and invite them to call if they need groceries, prescriptions, or just want to talk.
3. Connect seniors to helpful resources
There are a lot of amazing seniors programs, services, and resources that can enhance the safety and well-being of older persons and help them participate as active members of the community. The problem is many seniors don’t know about them! Take some time to research what resources are available and share them with the older adults in your life. To make things easier, we’ve created a list of some of the incredible organizations in our city that work to connect seniors with support services!
211 Alberta Seniors Information Line and Website
211 Alberta is a comprehensive information and referral system accessible to all Albertans. Call 211 or visit the 211 Alberta website for information about seniors programs, services and resources in the community, and to ask any questions about resources and supports for seniors.
https://www.ab.211.ca/211-topics/seniors-older-adults/
City of Edmonton Support Services for Seniors
Get connected to community resources that can help deal with things from relationships to elder abuse.
https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_seniors/support-services.aspx
Sage Seniors Association
Sage Seniors Association has services that enhance the safety and well-being of older persons and provides information and services that assist older persons to participate as active members of the community.
https://www.mysage.ca/publications/resources
Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council
ESCC works to enhance and connect seniors with community supports. It brings people, ideas, and information together to build collaborative approaches to services, supports, and circumstances affecting older adults.
https://www.seniorscouncil.net/resources-ESCC
Age Friendly Edmonton
Age Friendly Edmonton™ is an initiative to build a city that values, respects and actively supports the well-being of seniors. They provide resources and information on a variety of topics affecting seniors.
https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/initiatives_innovation/age-friendly-edmonton.aspx
Seniors’ Centre Without Walls
SCWW is a free phone-based program that offers recreational activities, health and well-being topics as well as a friendly conversation for older adults.
http://www.edmontonsouthsidepcn.ca/classes-health-resources/seniors-centre-without-walls/
