With funding from the Stark Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston, Prince Edward Community Care has released the 12th edition of the "Information for Seniors" directory. The booklet has 90 pages of useful information for seniors who reside in Prince Edward County including listings of community and health services; fitness and recreation; long-term care facilities; seniors clubs and other organizations. The guide is provided free and is available for pick up at the Community Care office in The Armoury, 206 Main Street, in Picton.
L-R: Rev. Stan Whitehouse, volunteer; Lorna Lumley, co-ordinator; and
Genny Vincent, chair of the board, prepare a display of the new seniors' directory.
Amid the swirl of planned changes to the health care system in Ontario, Community Care continues to do its work to help seniors live at home. The minister of health has announced that the transformation of the health care system in Ontario is underway. For over 27 years, Prince Edward Community Care for Seniors has been transforming the lives of the seniors that the agency supports. With 5 staff members and over 500 volunteers the impact that Community Care has on the lives of seniors can be summarized in the words of clients' themselves.
This is a sample of what seniors say about Community Care: "It is most interesting what you are prepared to do for the aged." "Just a line to say the meals on wheels are excellent. I have no complaint at all and I appreciate it very much." "Thank you for arranging this (bus) trip for us to enjoy. We really appreciate your doing this for us to have a wonderful day away from home. Thanks again for all you do for us seniors. Your hearing classes were a big help to me and make a big difference for me as I had to have two hearing aids."
Services include Meals on Wheels, transportation to medical appointments, noon-time dinners for seniors, foot care, help with forms, rural route reassurance and telephone reassurance programs. The agency is partly funded by the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care and supported by donations and community fundraising efforts.
October is "community support month" in Ontario and Community Care is celebrating with the launch of the directory and by promoting volunteer opportunities with the agency. There is an immediate need for volunteers to drive seniors to medical appointments, visit, deliver Meals on Wheels, make daily telephone reassurance calls, and to help at the Thrift Shop.
For information on these and other programs call Community Care at 476-7493, stop in at the office located at The Armoury, 206 Main Street, Picton, or check the website at www.communitycareforseniors.org
