‘Just like getting a big hug’: Grant supports seniors during COVID-19

When the pandemic first hit, 61-year-old Jackie Potter worried about how she would see her doctor or get basic necessities.

The Hamilton resident reached out to St. Matthew's House, a non-profit group providing support for child care and seniors.

The group's Seniors First Response Team helped deliver groceries and an air-conditioner to her home. They also gave her a shield to wear in place of a mask because of medical conditions that affect her breathing.

I have one worker that calls me once a week and asks me how I'm doing," said Potter. It helps my mental state a lot."

Potter is among many seniors who struggled with the effects of the provincewide lockdown, unsure how to get groceries or stay connected with loved ones. Federal support gave a boost to local organizations providing seniors help, but the demand continues to grow.

The calls are increasing every day," says Renee Wetselaar, executive director of St. Matthew's House, who noted the deliveries are made in partnership with CityHousing Hamilton.

In May, the Canadian government announced $20 million in additional funding to support organizations helping isolated seniors during the pandemic. The United Way Halton & Hamilton has administered almost $208,000 toward 16 projects under the program.

St. Matthew's House is one of them. The group received $20,000 to perform wellness checks and deliver food and other items to 500 isolated seniors.

Stella Lehto is a 66-year-old Hamilton resident who chairs the seniors' centre advisory committee at the YWCA. Hers was one of the more than 100 homes who received a care hamper in June from YWCA Hamilton with food, exercise equipment and activities.

It was just like getting a big hug," Lehto said.

Robin Mech, the supervisor of YWCA Hamilton's 55+ Active Living Centre, said the goal was to make a connection with seniors who might otherwise feel isolated.

The YWCA received almost $6,000 from the federal program and although their goal was to reach 100 households, Mech says they exceeded that by far," noting that many recipients shared the hamper items with friends.

We still get calls," she said. There's definitely demand and even more so for some form of face-to-face connection."

Evelyn Myrie, president of the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association, noted it's important to provide help to senior residents in a culturally relevant way.

As seniors age, they tend to go back to their first language, the food their familiar with and all the cultural nuances that they're more comfortable with," she said.

The association received almost $72,000 from the federal Emergency Community Support Fund - created to help community groups support vulnerable people during the pandemic - to help isolated seniors in Black communities with food, housing, and social needs.

The group performs wellness checks for members and gives grocery vouchers to seniors for Caribbean and African stores. Where members are unable to buy their own groceries, they group offers delivery.

We believe that it's important that they have comfort in these times," Myrie said.

Brad Park, president and CEO of United Way Halton & Hamilton, said while the federal grant helped offset some of the need in the community, there was more demand than the funding could support. He believes it will be an ongoing challenge to address the needs of seniors in the long-term.

The issues are only going to get bigger as the population continues to age," he said. We have to find new ways to support this population ... We're not through the pandemic yet."

Maria Iqbal's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on aging issues.