
When COVID-19 struck our community in March, Horton Street Seniors’ Centre (HSSC) was forced to close its doors, leaving 1,200+ members without access to the supports they rely on for connection and personal relationships.
“It all happened so fast,” said Shelley Wood, Seniors’ Program Manager at HSSC. “One day the Club was bustling with activity, and the next, we were locking the doors.”
According to Wood, this left people who rely on HSSC for there activity and community involvement in a potentially isolated and vulnerable spot. Often, people participating in the programs report living alone, sometimes choosing between food and other living expenses. They come to HSSC looking for physical activity or to fill their time, and then find themselves getting more involved as time goes on.
“People were beginning to feel more and more isolated. Many of our seniors were becoming extremely lonely.”
“Food is a big part of what we do at HSSC,” continued Wood. “People come to the club for swimming or another activity, and suddenly we find them laughing with new friends in our café.”
Food is a vital part of programming at the Club. It brings people together and helps reduce isolation while creating new social connections and relationships.
When HSSC was forced to shutter its programs due to the pandemic, Wood and her team knew they needed to respond quickly, in a tried and true way.
“We knew a lot of people out there were going to need support,” said Wood. “Many of our clients don’t have computers or emails, so we just started calling people. I think we called over 1,000 people, and have continued those calls throughout the shutdown.”
“We knew a lot of people out there were going to need support,” said Wood. “Many of our clients don’t have computers or emails, so we just started calling people. I think we called over 1,000 people, and have continued those calls throughout the shutdown.”
“People were beginning to feel more and more isolated. Many of our seniors were becoming extremely lonely,” said Wood.
Knowing they needed to do something quickly, Wood and her team initiated several new social programs, calling them the HSSC Senior Centre Without Walls program. Individuals could connect by phone and Facebook with the weekly focus including friendly chit-chat, the occasional game of trivia, and sometimes tip-time, an opportunity for members to share advice and personal experiences.
“We had to move fast to acquire some new technology,” said Wood, “but once we had what we needed in place, we began connecting people immediately.”
And for the more physically inclined, the Club initiated an online exercise program, available weekly on Facebook Live.
“The response was incredible,” Wood shared. “People were sharing they especially appreciated the social calls and phone programs. It allowed them to stay safe, but connected, during a difficult time. We could tell their spirits were improving.”
HSSC re-opened under an adapted model on September 8. Wood shared that HSSC will maintain its new programs to continue to help reach people who are feeling isolated or alone.
“Things are going to look a little different, but we are excited to get people back together and into the community,” said Wood.