Active Living Fair

Excellent attendance at Community Care for Seniors event

Hundreds of people attended the Seniors Information and Active Living Fair last Thursday upon its return to the Wellington and District Community Centre after a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by the Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association, there were over 50 vendors, service providers and community organizations on hand to provide County seniors with information on how to live and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Information tables from organizations such as the Alzheimer Society Hastings Prince Edward, County Arts, Hospice Prince Edward and Quinte Transport, among many others, were set up in the main hall and lobby area. There were presentations in the Rotary Hall and second floor Taskforce Lounge covering topics such as bird identification (by naturalist Terry Sprague), Aging Optimally (with Tracy Reid of Fitness Powers), winter driving (by the Ministry of Transportation) and fraud prevention (with OPP Staff Sergeant Sean Guscott). Throughout the day there was Timbits and coffee provided by Tim Hortons, and visitors were offered a tasty croissant sandwich for lunch.

Julianne Snepsts, Supervisor of Community Programs, Services and Initiatives for the County said the number of senior residents in the County has seen a rapid increase, and Shire Hall is responding by investing time and resources into building programs that help ensure seniors are living safely and well in the community. There are programs such as the municipal financial relief grant, smoking cessation, immunization and Covid boosters, and County Transit. “But we also have a lot of fun things going on too, with museum programs at five sites across the County and recreation department services,” she said. “And we have a program that we’re offering this fall that we’re really excited about, funded in part by the province. We’re offering free transit for seniors 55-plus who would like to get to events in the County—Remembrance Day ceremonies, or some of the craft shows, or Festival of Trees—all you have to do is call County Transit and they can arrange that for you. We’re trying to help keep seniors mobile, get out in the community, and enjoy life here in the County.” She added that the Active Living Fair helps to raise awareness of the services available to seniors, and is also an opportunity to finally be able to meet face-to-face with those seniors who have moved here within the past three years. For more information about County services for seniors, please visit thecounty.ca/residents/seniors-hub/.

Community Care for Seniors (CCS) coordinator Laura McGugan was thrilled at the enthusiastic turnout for the fair. “It great to be able to bring the available resources for seniors together in one spot,” she said. “Our goal is to help seniors live within their home as long as possible and as safely as possible. Some of the services we provide are Meals on Wheels, and escorted transportation program where we take clients to their medical appointments. or grocery shopping, or to the bank. We also have vetted home workers to help with house cleaning or yard work, and our Active Living Program helps to keep seniors connected. We know senior isolation is an issue—we knew that before COVID-19. It was in the spotlight during the pandemic and we’ve been working very hard to keep seniors connected by providing educational and fun presentations and fitness programs.” She added that CCS is looking to provide more in-person programs at local town halls. She also noted the CCS programs are made possible by the work of countless dedicated volunteers, many who are themselves seniors, and that as the number of programs increase there will be a need for more volunteers. For more in formation about CCS programs, or to volunteer, please visit communitycareforseniors.org.