Program New To Saskatchewan Hopes To Break Loneliness Many Seniors Experience

For seniors who feel trapped and lonely at home or who want to learn and do new things there is a new 100 percent free service that is just starting to come on-line and all you need is access to a telephone.

Started 24 years ago in California, Seniors Centre Without Walls, is a conference call based program where seniors initially sign up and then they can participate in programs designed to help them keep active as well as meet other people on the phone.

“It gives them somewhere to go,” said Ronda Wedhorn, program manager of the Saskatchewan Seniors Centre Without Walls. “it’s kind of like the old party line. The whole purpose of the free service is to help them alleviate some of the isolation and loneliness they experience.”

Although the program was not initially launched in the United States due to a pandemic Wedhorn said in today’s COVID - 19 world it is something that is needed and has great potential in the new reality.

"I think we don’t know which way COVID - 19 is going to go over this Winter and we don’t know if we are going to be in quarantine or open or not. This gives people an opportunity to socialize when they may have no or very little contact with others,” she said.

“People may not be with families for many reasons such as COVID and not in touch with their families. This gives seniors another way to connect with people.”

Wedhorn is first to admit the program does have its limitations but with that said it has helped thousands of people since its inception who are lonely and want to have social interaction and keep active.

“This does not replace personal visits and it does not alleviate all problems of being isolated and alone but it does give people the opportunity to get involved and meet new friends all through the telephone.”

For Wedhorn the Saskatchewan-wide program has a personal story to it. She personally went through caring for her mother who went through the various stages of dementia. Wedhorn became involved with the program as a way to reach out and help others.

Asked why the program did not go to an on-line computer based format instead of being telephone based she said the group decided the telephone was the best option because it allows a greater number of seniors to participate.

“Lots of adults don’t use a computer. It makes it fairer for everyone because most people have a telephone. For some seniors they struggle using a computer and then there are added costs such as the computer itself plus the fees to access the Internet. This allows more people to participate without a lot of expensive costs not everyone can afford,” Wedhorn said.

Funding for the 100 percent free program comes through a Red Cross Community COVID Grant, making the program free - not just for the phone calls but also the supplies necessary to participate in some of the conference call activities.

The Red Cross grant pays for the program until the end of November but if it generates sufficient interest it will mean the grant can be extended making the program permanent.

Registration is done over the telephone.

Once registered the group calls them and the participant then punches a telephone key to take part in the program for that session.

Although the program is telephone based it is going into the world of visual arts with one planned telephone-based workshop based upon painting sunflowers.

In advance of the telephone conference call free art supplies and instructions will be mailed out totally free. Once the actual session happens participants will use the telephone to communicate and discuss their art.

There will be a wide range of programs available.

Other programs include authors reading their works, the Canada Revenue Agency talking about scams seniors face plus also tips on properly completing their income tax, Karla Rasmussen from the Western Development Museum will put on a program about Winter transportation and there will also be a program called stretch exercising where people can exercise while on the telephone.

The subjects seniors can learn about and interactively participate in are endless and just depend upon the presenters that the group can find.

“We are always looking for volunteer speakers to come on and speak about various topics.”

In a world of fraud committed by telephone Wedhorn wanted to assure people the program is 100 percent free and it is the participants themselves who chose to sign up. If anyone were to call to attempt to sign someone up, obtain personal information or money then the senior should immediately hang up.

“We would never ask anyone for money. We are 100 percent free,” she said.

Registration to the program is by telephone and you can do so by calling Ronda at 306-690-4957 or Deb 306-630-5740.

For more information the group has a website at www.scwwmoosejaw.com or check out their Facebook page SCWW Moose Jaw.

The program is not just for seniors (those over 55) in Moose Jaw but is for the entire province.