Come November, Cochrane area seniors and their caregivers will have a new resource to turn to for assistance for the wide variety of challenges they face.
Maybe a senior is in need of companionship, or transportation, or someone to run errands for them. That’s where Cochrane Support for Seniors comes in.
The initiative, a brand-new, not-for-profit organization, aims to provide services to local seniors and their families/caregivers to help make their day-to-day lives a little easier.
“It’s a perfect storm situation in Cochrane right now, in terms of seniors,” said Caroline Williams, president of the initiative’s board and co-founder of the organization. “Our population is growing and, according to the last census, there are about 400 seniors here who are over 80 years old.”
Williams began tossing ideas around for a senior support initiative after her mother passed away, after acquiring firsthand experience of the difficulties faced by this cross-section of the population. Soon, she was joined by Sarah Dubois, a former recreation therapy assistant at Cochrane’s Bethany Care Society.
Together, they came up with Cochrane Support for Seniors, an initiative they hope will complement the other resources in town.
“Cochrane is so spread out and there’s no public transit for seniors,” said Williams. “It’s hard for them to get around, run errands and access information. It’s important they have the means to live day-to-day.”
In addition to providing services for seniors, Williams said the group seeks to relieve the burden from caregivers as well. With many working baby boomers looking after their aging parents, she said it can take hours to even go to a doctor’s appointment.
“We’re not just there for the seniors, but for the support givers,” said Williams. “It’s a lot of stress to balance your life, your family, your job and your loved one.”
Dubois said the non-profit group will offer a variety of different services to their clients, including attendant service and transportation, check-in service, errand running and grocery store pickup and delivery, companionship, as well as research and navigation of a variety of systems and resources.
At this point, Williams and Dubois will be providing the services.
Fees will be charged for the services provided, at least until the not-for-profit can apply for funding, said Williams. The fees will cover the organization’s expenses.
Both Williams and Dubois said the initiative is based around the concept of trust; not just for the senior and the caregiver, but for the organization as well.
“Getting to know the client is an important part of the initiative,” said Dubois. “We want our care to be individualized.”
“Trust is a huge issue for seniors,” said Williams in agreement. “We want to get to know the clients and their needs, so we can help them find appropriate services.”
For additional information on the upcoming program — which aims to be operating by the beginning of November — please call Caroline Williams at 403-932-5055 or Sarah Dubois at 403-703-4367.
