Senior Program
We host biweekly intergenerational events bringing together seniors, students and volunteers from the community to alleviate social isolation. Here's how it all began...
In 2022, NeighbourLink received the New Horizons for Seniors Grant to hold intergenerational events in our community. We decided to focus our program on 175 Cummer, also known as Willowdale Manor, a low-income senior home in the neighbourhood. In the spring, we went door to door with a survey and muffins to get to know the seniors better and learn about what they would like to see happen in their building. We heard from them that for two years, all programs had stopped due to the pandemic, and they were feeling more isolated than ever.
Our Summer Event team used the survey to create a program of weekly events. Many of the residents speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi and Russian, so we brought in student volunteers who speak those languages to get to know the residents. This also helped the different cultural groups connect.
After that first summer ended it was clear that this program needed to continue. NeighbourLink was positively impacting the residents and the residents were also having a profound impact on our staff and volunteers. After reviewing feedback surveys and consulting residents we moved forward with the program and continue to host different events every two weeks
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​In 2024 we really focused on physical wellness at the request of many of the residents, several who don’t ever leave the building. We had many chair yoga sessions, dance classes, fall prevention workshops and group physiotherapy.
We also hosted cultural celebrations for Lunar New Year & Nowruz.
Performers of all ages joined us throughout the year and several school groups visited to do activities with the seniors. A highlight was a grade 5 class that visited to deliver and make Valentine Cards with the residents.
The friendships made and the transformations we’ve seen in the overall mental health of the residents has been beautiful to witness.
Each event we welcomed students and other members of the community to engage with the residents and have meaningful conversations over healthy meals. Many volunteers return week after week.
This year several residents passed away who were dedicated attendees of this program. We walked in grief together with their friends and family honouring those we had lost.
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