Workshops on consumer fraud, safety with medication, and line dancing will be for the taking should a new seniors’ program receive funding from an Ontario Trillium Foundation proposal submitted by the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau.
Executive director Vanessa Hebert expected the submission—seeking a grant of $75,000 over three years—to be finalized and sent off to “the powers that be” by the end of the month.
“We’ve done all of our homework—we know how much it will cost us for advertising, seminars, honorariums, etc.,” Hebert said last week. “We need the funding to start the program and build it up to where, at some point, in the next three years it’s self-sustaining.
“I’ve heard from seniors that there’s not enough out there to do,” she added. “We’d like to be able to offer something different than what’s offered [elsewhere].”
Hebert also said she’d really like to hear from seniors about what kind of programs they’re interested in, stressing all submissions would be welcomed.
Local businesses and community organizations have shown their support for the proposed seniors’ program, with backing from health and community safety professionals.
“We would definitely be interested in [helping out],” said Fort Frances OPP Cst. Dereck McLean, who also speaks to various groups as a community services officer.
Cst. McLean said the new program would offer a forum for education and awareness on a variety of current issues affecting seniors.
“Elder abuse is a growing problem in many communities,” he noted. “It has different aspects—physical, exploitation, emotional, and verbal abuse, and neglect.
“We would come in and speak to these different issues.”
OPP community services officers already give talks on the financial aspects of elder abuse, including telemarketing fraud, identity theft, and bank schemes.
Ongoing programs through the Volunteer Bureau that aim to help seniors include the pet visiting and bartender programs at Rainycrest Home for the Aged here.
The pet visiting program, for instance, allows Rainycrest residents the opportunity to enjoy the company of house pets brought in by the volunteers who own them.
“We could use more people with pets,” said Hebert. “Of course, we have to screen the pets. That sounds odd, I know, but there are a lot of frail, elderly people there and we wouldn’t want a big black lab jumping up on somebody.”
Meanwhile, the bartending program there presently has a rotation of eight volunteers who drop by Rainycrest for an hour from Monday to Friday to serve alcohol.
Residents who are permitted to drink must present a liquor ticket to the bartender.
“It gives everybody a chance to visit during the social hour,” said Hebert.
As well, the local Volunteer Bureau’s annual income tax service will get underway March 1, in which qualified volunteers will provide tax preparation for low-income individuals and their families, the disabled, new citizens, and seniors.
For more information about this program, contact the Volunteer Bureau at 274-9555.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
