As more and more seniors move into Quesnel, the Seniors’ Advocacy Service is continuing to provide programming.
Susan MacNeill is a coordinator at the service, which has been open since 2004. Safety has been top of mind for the group during COVID-19.
“We now do it at the door, we haul our little table out (of the office) and into the mall,” MacNeill said.
“We’ve actually done well. Originally when the pandemic and everything shut us down, we weren’t back in service until late June of (2020), so we really were only closed for the initial part of COVID.”
The service’s office is located inside the West Park Mall.
MacNeill said, like many other groups in Quesnel, they are struggling to find volunteers.
“We’re all getting older, so it’s a huge struggle,” she said.
“We’re always looking for volunteers that might want to come in and help out.”
The service uses volunteers to help run their events, and run their office, which is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
“You don’t have to be a senior to be in here,” MacNeill said.
“You could be a student, and just want to put some volunteer hours in. We would love to have a student and do some mentoring.”
One of the biggest challenges facing seniors in Quesnel is finding housing. The service maintains a list of available housing and facility care options, which can be found online or at their offices.
“We’re devastated,” MacNeill said of the housing supply in Quesnel.
“A one-bedroom in somebody’s home starts at $800, and a lot of seniors, especially widows or widowers who haven’t paid into a company payment plan are living off their (government supports and pensions), so it’s really not enough.”
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MacNeill said she hopes to see many more homes built in the Quesnel area quickly for “medium-income” seniors.
The advocacy service runs many programs, including accessible parking, transportation to medical appointments, mediation and form preparation.
The Life After 60 program is run out of the same office, which helps provide things like hygiene products, wheelchairs and other mobility devices, dental care and eyeglasses.
“A lot of people retire, and they don’t pay for extended benefits or have extended benefits,” MacNeill said.
The full list of services is available on the service’s website, quesnelseniors.ca. There are also plans to revamp their Facebook page beginning in May.
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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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