Each year throughout the month of June in the Haut-Saint-Laurent there is a ‘Let’s Visit Our Seniors Challenge’. Visits can come in ways of phone calls, visits (at a distance), facetime, skype, etc.
With Covid-19 challenges, we have had to be even more innovative this year. Kim Wilson, Project Coordinator for the Monteregie West Community Network approached partners from the local Senior’s Table of the Haut-Saint-Laurent to see if they could work together to provide entertainment for our Valley’s CHSLDs and HLMs and we haven’t looked back!
A schedule was drawn up with names and locations of these centers and everyone worked hard at finding different types of entertainment for each week, ranging from exercises, bands and even a DJ. Each week our visits seemed to mean more and more for so many. We had the opportunity to visit Residences throughout the Valley in Huntingdon, Ormstown, Howick, Franklin, St. Chrysostome, just to name a few.
Seniors gathered on their front porches, balconies or set up chairs outside and clapped hands and some even got up and danced to the wonderful music.
It warmed my heart to see two friends holding hands to dance to an old favorite. At one residence, three seniors got up and danced up a storm. It was so nice to see seniors having fun and reminiscing about the old days!
All residence directors were amazed and so pleased to have this opportunity for their seniors.
Karen Lauren, director of Kay’s Residence said, “This is the first time everyone is altogether and outside on the front porch since the Covid-19 isolation period began”.
Posters of encouragement were donated by the Challenge Committee and left at each residence to remind seniors they are not forgotten.
The music combined with the seemed to bring smiles to people’s faces and raise spirits.
This project has been so successful that it has continued throughout the month of July! A special Thank You goes out to all the musical volunteers who gave of their time to make a difference in the life of so many community members.
Check out the www.MWCN.ca website upcoming events.
Kim Wilson
