En bonne compagnie will be able to continue its impressive mandate, thanks in part to new funding from the Québec ami des aînés. With an initiative to break the isolation of seniors still living at home who are losing their autonomy, En bonne compagnie was conceptualized and funded by le Comité de concertation des aînés du Haut-Saint-Laurent and supported until February, 2016 by the Conférence régionale des élus, which has since been dissolved.
En bonne compagnie is run through Communic-Action, a non-profit with a mission to better the lives of seniors living in the Haut-Saint-Laurent. Program coordinator, Manon Gauthier, explains that in our rural area we often see the elderly cut off from community interactions for many reasons. Factors like inaccessibility to public transit or the loss of a driver’s license can contribute to isolation. Health concerns like the fear of falling in public and cognitive losses, can also keep some seniors homebound. Isolation leads to loneliness. With an aging population, loneliness lends itself to serious health consequences for many—including depression and increased risk of chronic diseases. An occasional neighborly visit can have a huge impact on someone feeling alone.
While the project’s main objective is to identify seniors at risk and provide them with home visits from volunteers, the program also includes educating the public about problems like discrimination and neglect, and promoting social participation between generations. One such initiative was the 85 Christmas cards that were made by Maison des jeunnes and distributed to seniors; which for some was the only attention they received during the holiday season. Another planned agenda provides congenial visits to private residences and facilities—only 25% of residents receive visits from relatives.
Future outreach will range from establishing community partnerships such as municipal employees willing to inspect home smoke detectors to recruiting young professional trainees (such as hairdressing students) willing to volunteer their skills, to improving communication between the elderly and their families by teaching seniors new technologies (i.e. using tablets).
“Since the Haut-Saint-Laurent is rural and covers nearly 1150 sq km,” Manon says, “the development of such a project is ambitious and time-consuming, so the short-term funding was not sufficient to realize the project. Much more needs to be done to access the under-served areas of the region.” This latest injection of funds, along with sufficient volunteer participation, will allow En bonne compagnie to continue to build a system of multi-generational support.
To become a volunteer, learn more about events, or find services in your area contact Manon Gauthier at 450-957-8555 or [email protected]
