Жители Свон Хиллс отправили 21 пенсионера в экскурсию в Сент-Альберт для борьбы с одиночеством

A Seniors Week field trip organized by Swan Hills Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) offered 21 local seniors a field trip. The outing was a chance to connect, learn and take part in new experiences outside the community, says FCSS director Trina Molnar. Molnar says FCSS programs are designed to “promote and enhance the well-being of Albertans, families and communities,” with a focus on prevention, healthy lifestyles and helping individuals build the capacity to prevent or deal with crisis situations should they arise. She says FCSS programs are preventive and are intended to enhance the social well-being of individuals and families through promotion or early intervention strategies. In Swan Hills, Molnar says one of FCSS’s priorities is supporting seniors so they can remain connected to their community by providing resources and programs that help them age in place. Those programs include Armchair Travel, a weekly program that gives seniors an opportunity to explore the culture and history of places many may never physically visit. FCSS also offers Seniors Social in partnership with the Swan Hills Library. Molnar says FCSS brings in educational and informative speakers to discuss topics that may affect people as they age, including elder abuse, fall prevention, fraud prevention and Compass for Caregivers. The monthly program is followed by a light lunch. During Seniors Week, Molnar says Swan Hills FCSS took 21 seniors on a field trip to St. Albert. The group stopped for a meal at Atlantic Kitchen before joining residents of Everitt Gardens Retirement Lodge for live entertainment by Matt Day and a small resource fair. Molnar says it was valuable for the Swan Hills seniors to see what senior living has to offer in a larger community. After the lodge visit, the group went to the Enjoy Centre, where participants explored the health market, shops and greenhouse. Molnar says many walked through the flowers, taking in the colours, textures and scents, while others used the stop as a chance to enjoy coffee and connect with fellow travellers. “It was a great day, filled with smiling faces, laughter and new experiences,” Molnar says. Molnar says the goal of the outing was to reduce isolation by giving seniors a chance to connect and engage through experiential learning and social connections. The trip also connected with the Armchair Travel program, by giving seniors an in-person opportunity to explore experiences they may not have had access to on their own. Sara Driedger For South Peace News