New Seniors Centre offers programs for all corners of the County

The unveiling of the new County Seniors Centre logo with (from left) MPP Todd Smith, Ken Laycock (Director, Community Care for Seniors), Margaret Werkhoven (past president, Community Care for Seniors); Debbie MacDonald Moynes (executive director, Community Care for Seniors), Barbara Proctor (president and chair of the board, Community Care for Seniors) and David Harrison (acting mayor).

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
A new County Seniors Centre offering programming and a sense of community in all corners of the County was launched at the North Marysburgh Town Hall, Friday.

The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association established the centre to offer programming throughout the County’s nine local municipal town halls.

“Our association recognized an opportunity to accomplish a primary goal in our association’s future plan and to expand our programs and services to reach a broader sector of Prince Edward County seniors,” said Barb Proctor, president and chair of the Community Care for Seniors board.

“This will enable Community Care for Seniors to expand on capacity for the delivery of older adult programs to all corners of the County. Community Care is already an important organization; it has governance structures already in place and the capacity for expansion,” she said. “A senior centre also enhances the County’s goal for an age-friendly community. Our organization was very grateful for our municipal council for seeing the value of this mission.”

Programming in nine municipal halls throughout Prince Edward County complements the primary Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association location at 74A King Street, Picton.

During the age-friendly community focus groups and survey held in 2016, it was established County seniors prefer such programming to be close to where they live. Social isolation among seniors is recognized as a growing problem with the aging of the population. The County Seniors Centre will ensure that new activities and services are offered to engage seniors and to enhance their social networks, contributing to their health and wellness.

Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith also represented Minister of Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho.

Todd Smith

“Mr. Cho had his first question in question period yesterday,” Smith told the group. “Raymond is in his 80s and he told us yesterday during question period that just after the election, he had a stroke. And so he is now Minister at Queen’s Park recovering from his stroke. He definitely can understand what’s happening when it comes to seniors. And I know he would have been very pleased to have been here today, but unfortunately he wasn’t able to make it from Toronto, but on behalf of Mr. Cho, and on behalf of the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Christine Elliott, I am pleased to be here.”

He thanked Community Care for Seniors for being an outstanding organization in the community.

North Marysburgh councillor and acting mayor David Harrison

“When you think of all the hours that your volunteers put in, and all they do, seniors living in our large community in Prince Edward County get the services that they need. We would be lost without them, so thank you for all the work that you do,” he said. “To be able to provide these programs in Prince Edward County closer to where the seniors live, and make it more accessible, and I know you all appreciate that and I look forward to the difference that is going to make in our community.”

“This is a proud moment not only as acting mayor, but as this announcement takes place in my home ward and particularly for seniors, which is something I thought I’d never be,” said North Marysburgh councillor David Harrison, to laughter.

“The municipality is a proud supporter of this initiative. As a community with the second highest percentage of seniors in Ontario, we want to ensure Prince Edward County remains an age-friendly community for all. Seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible, but that presents certain challenges for those people living in rural areas.”

The association, he noted, has identified social isolation among seniors as a growing issue to be addressed by offering activities and services closer to where seniors live.

“I can’t think of a better place for these activities to happen than in our municipal halls where for so many years these halls, like the one we are in today, have fostered a real sense of community,” said Harrison. “They have stood in the heart of the community, a place for us to gather and connect with one another. I am pleased to see that tradition continue and flourish through the County Seniors Centre which I am sure will be a success given the commitment, dedication and expertise of the Community Care for Seniors Association.“

He noted the association already does much to make the County a comfortable and enjoyable place for seniors to live, including services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation to appointments and home maintenance assistance.

“I am so happy to see programs available for seniors are expanding and reaching new areas of the County, so that even more people have easy access to services being offered.”

A broad range of activities and interests is to be offered – including an indoor and outdoor walking program, pickleball, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi and dance. There will also be cooking for one, cooking for men and baking as well as a range of games, cards, crafts, painting, photography, writing memoir workshops and basic gardening. Additionally, healthy aging, hearing clinics and medication assessments will be offered.

County Seniors Centre memberships are $25 per person annually.

“We are really excited and pleased to be here today launching the County Seniors Centre,” said Debbie MacDonald Moynes, Community Care’s executive director. “We have a 41-year history for supporting seniors in the County and this is a new way to help seniors live at home.”

A new logo was designed specifically for the initiative.

“It represents connection and community in addition to visually connecting to the original logo, said MacDonald Moynes. “The CCS in the logo, we wanted it to evoke quickly and simply the emotion of a seniors centre and we think it accomplishes that. The icons represent socialization, togetherness, engagement, happiness, wellness, activity, etc.”

The Seniors Centre will create one-and-a-half full time equivalent jobs and more than 300 seniors are expected to participate in the first year.

“We heard in the projects that we had under way last year that seniors would be interested in programming in the County, so now that it is launched, we have the membership applications available and we are good to go,” she added.

Click here to visit the Community Care for Seniors website for details on all the programs and services offered throughout the County.

Executive director, Community Care for Seniors, Debbie MacDonald Moynes and Barbara Proctor, president and chair of the board.