For many seniors in the community it can be hard to get out, meet people, and continue to be part of the community. Health and mobility problems can make it hard to get out. The Red Cross wants to help those seniors, and prevent social isolation. The friendly visiting program is looking for volunteers to get out to those seniors and take some time to visit them.
Andrea Leclair with the Red Cross explains that the goal is to bring people together for regular, friendly visits. Volunteers are trained, and will provide companionship, and their progress will be kept track of monthly. Volunteers must pass a criminal record check.
In Yorkton, there are five successful pairings so far, but Leclair says there’s a huge list of seniors in Yorkton and the surrounding area who are looking for someone to visit them and provide some companionship.
“The biggest thing that we’re hoping by running this program is that we can provide some companionship to these isolated seniors who may not have any other avenues for companionship. In doing so, we hope that their safety in their home will be increased, and that someone is checking in on them on a regular basis. It gives peace of mind to concerned members of the community.”
Leclair says that it’s something that benefits the volunteers as well, as they make friends with the seniors they visit. She says for many volunteers, the joy is seeing the difference they’re making in their new friend who they meet through the program.
Yorkton was one of the areas where the programs launched due to the large number of seniors in the region.
To get involved or get more information, visit redcross.ca/skvisiting. There, people can sign up for the program, get more information, or refer seniors. Seniors can also call 306-216-6602 to receive referral forms. Others can also refer any senior over 65, and Leclair notes many referrals come from family members or health care professionals.
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