Q&A: Volunteer program stresses the need to support HRM's seniors

Volunteers in the HRMare working to provide better access and home support to seniors living independently.

An organization called Happy at Home isfinding ways to keep seniors as comfortable as possible in their own homes.

Program co-ordinator Kathleen Reid spoke with CBC's Information Morning host Portia Clark about what the program offers.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tell us a bit about this Happy at Home and how it got started.

Happy at Home Halifax is part of an initiative between Chebucto Links and Spencer Senior Centre.The [executive director] saw a real need for seniors to be able to have access [to] in-home supports, as well as to have assistance whenever they're looking for a new service or program. When they come up against a challenge seniors find it very overwhelming to navigate all of the resources available to them or even just accessing electronics.

Our program offers two different services. One is the navigation service, so you can call our hotline and this is also for caregivers of seniors as well. And our navigator will help find a solution for the challenge that a senior is facing. It can be a wide range of anything. Sometimes people call because they're trying to have books read to them. Other times, they call because they don't have access to food support.

Information Morning - NS8:13Helping seniors in Halifax with 'Happy at Home'

A group of volunteers in the HRM is trying to make it easier for seniors to live independently in their own homes, for longer. It's called Happy at Home Halifax. From meal deliveries to changing light bulbs, they offer a variety of different services to help seniors be as comfortable as possible in their own space.

Then the other side of our program is in-home support we've been offering a meal delivery service as well as grocery and pharmacy pickup. And just most recently in September, we've launched our in-home maintenance program. A senior can call us to book an appointment to have us come in and we'll hang up curtains, pictures or change light bulbs, clean heat pump filters.

Are these people who live on their own, they don't have someone who's right there with them or who can come and help them?

Yes, the majority of our seniors, about 80 per cent all live on their own or they're living with a spouse or partner who would also be a senior.

What's the reception that you get from the seniors that you go and help?

We have had positive feedback. We only bring one meal a week. So, sometimes we feel like that's not very much, but that's just what our funding allows. One of our seniors had explained to us that that one meal means so much to them because somebody took time to cook them a meal.

We've had a senior cry on the phone whenever we offered them service when we told them about it because they're like, 'I have a huge allergy to dust and I haven't been able to wash my curtains in two years.' And she's like, 'I can't take them down'. And so even for her to sit in her living room was uncomfortable. So, we were able to go take her curtains down so she could get them washed.

Sounds like it's been quite a learning experience. How has this opened your eyes to the situations that some people are living in?

It's been very eye-opening for everyone involved. I would not have considered curtains to be a challenge. I wouldn't have even thought of it. And so to go in and see that this could actually impact their health and well-being has been really eye-opening to me. We need to make more of a difference. We need to figure out how to fill this gap because we've lost our community. Our community is not what it was 20 years ago. Everybody needs a village, but our seniors need a village.

And I gather you've helped about 300 and some seniors so far. How many volunteers are doing all this work?

There's been 20 consistent throughout the process. We've been delivering meals and offering the navigation service since May. We just launched our in-home maintenance program in September, so we're excited to get that rolling out in October.