topics are active living, community services, continued learning, finance, food security, health and wellness, housing, legal services, public safety, senior friendly businesses and transportation. These can be picked up or mailed out at no charge.
Another communications method is Primetime Magazine. Published quarterly, it focuses on active, independent living and is timely.“ Our spring issue always focuses on finance because it’ s critical to ensure seniors know about tax issues,” says Gallant. A regular feature is a list of community resources which last spring included accessibility to two on-site clinics with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for eligible individuals; where to report fraud or scams and how to become what Gallant calls a Change Agent by volunteering at the centre.
This is an exciting time, she says, as the centre unveils a comprehensive on-line presence. There’ s a website, which through tabs on the left side of the page, link directly to a wide range of services and information.
By the time this article is published there will be a Facebook page up and running and the beginning of a series of You-Tube videos, filmed at the centre and which will include closed captioning and some American Sign Language interpretation added whenever funds are available to do so. Among the issues discussed will be legal ones surrounding wills and power of attorney.
“ We have to be aware of our demographic needs, to be sure we can respond to the best of our ability,” Gallant says,“ and make sure we’ re really hitting all the marks of an agefriendly community. We have to keep in mind we’ re dealing with an age
group from 50 to over 100 years and they all have different needs and are at different levels of literacy. They may have vision impairment or auditory or mobility issues, so when it comes to communication or accessing services we are aware of these challenges and we need to accommodate them to the best of our abilities. It’ s been well documented that when someone starts to have a vision or hearing loss, they feel isolated and may not want to ask for help, so we want to diversify our resources to communicate critical information.”
What kind of information? One example is the tie-in with emergency services and fire departments so if anyone enquires about fire and safety in their homes, the centre can help with a referral to the fire prevention services in each of the three surrounding communities.
Adds Beardsworth,“ We also collaborate with the Home Builders Association and through them competent and reliable contractors can provide a good economic fix to construction issues. If someone wants to put in a ramp, a master builder designation or contractor won’ t spin them a line. We have resources that help people get in their comfort zone, that keep them active and in their own homes longer, so they’ re not going into care homes.”
Today through the miracles of modern medicine, people are living longer. A longer life, however, doesn’ t necessarily mean a better quality of life and that’ s why the role of the Seniors Information Centre is critical. By providing meaningful information to seniors of any age, whether they be 55, 85 or even 105, it’ s insuring they’ re living their best life.“ We’ ve been doing this for the past ten years, and together as part of a community we’ re just getting better at it” says Gallant.
Rhéa Gallant is the Executive Director of the Senior’ s Information Centre. Fluently bilingual, she’ s happy to provide accurate information in answer to their questions and needs. She also wants to recruit volunteers interested in being part of this dynamic and visionary initiative.
Telephone 506-855-1121
PHOTO: MARGARET PATRICIA EATON
FALL / AUTOMNE 2018 PrimeTime 11