Introducing Solutions for Seniors – a non-profit program linking up caring volunteers with seniors who need a helping hand on arriving home from hospital, or that little bit of help to stay in their own homes. 

Solutions for Seniors, initiated by Powell River’s Seniors Citizens Association, is supported by Powell River Community Health. After a survey found that many seniors were returning home from hospital to empty houses without family or friends to look in on them, concerned senior citizens applied for a Smart Fund grant to start up this program, modeled after two very successful ‘Seniors Links’ programs operating in the Lower Mainland.

The program’s aim is to set up seniors with a ‘buddy’, someone the senior can call if needing a hand around the house, a ride to appointments, or simply a friendly face to share a cup of tea. Often seniors returning home from hospital, reports the program’s Coordinator, Devon Hanley, are not eligible for home support. “Many seniors don’t have any family in Powell River. Now we take calls from Powell River Hospital’s patient-care coordinator ensuring there will be someone to drive the patient home, help with the settling in and keep in touch during recuperation.”

Recently volunteer Stephanie Human provided a ride to and from the doctor’s for a senior, and then called a few days later to see how the senior was making out. “This lady seemed a little isolated, so I called back a few times, just to make sure she was okay.”

Many calls are coming in, not just requests but also calls from seniors concerned about other seniors, and calls from seniors’ grown children or who don’t live here or who work fulltime and want to make sure their parents aren’t spending long days alone.  “One heartbreaking, common scenario involves elderly couples who can no longer look after each other, when a little help at home would make all the difference,” says Hanley.

Solutions for Seniors needs volunteers. “We need people who can help out for a few weeks, maybe two to four hours each week, assisting seniors when they arrive home from hospital. Or, we can buddy-up a volunteer with a senior who is living alone but would do better if someone could look in once a week and offer a helping hand.  It’s all about letting seniors know they are not forgotten or alone, and that their welfare matters to us all.”

For more information, contact Devon Hanley at 604-414-9373.