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On the road again...
Tuesday July 29 2008 By Richard Vivian, Staff Writer A couple of new seniors programs are coming to the county, thanks to the province’s Aging at Home strategy.
The county recently received approval for new meal socialization and transportation initiatives.
Exact details of the funding have yet to be worked out, but Valerie Quarrie, Dufferin County’s manager of community support services, says about $72,000 is coming.
Most of the money, about $60,000, will go to help seniors and others in wheelchairs get to their medical appointments. The county already offers a transportation program of this nature using volunteer drivers.
“We haven’t been able to serve seniors who are more disabled or in wheelchairs, because people can’t accommodate that in their regular cars,” Quarrie says. “We saw the need out there.”
A minivan from Dufferin Oaks long-term care facility in Shelburne will be used — the facility is county-owned — with the new funds covering a driver’s wage, fuel and a cell phone in case of emergency.
“We don’t know if we’ll need a full-time driver,” Quarrie notes, adding the service will be available throughout Dufferin.
She hopes to have the expanded program up and running this fall, around the same time a congregate dining initiative is launched. Dufferin expects to receive about $12,000 to fund that one.
“We have a meals on wheels program where we take meals to people in their home, this is a program where we can bring people in [for a meal],” Quarrie says, noting it will first be offered to Shelburne seniors, with potential for expansion. “[There will be] recreation and activities too ... so it’s not only for nutrition, it’s also for preventing social isolation.
“Studies have shown that when you can prevent (social isolation) and encourage people to get nutritious meals, it improves their overall quality of life and health status.”
The program will see dinner provided once a week — a day hasn’t been chosen — at The Mel Lloyd Centre in Shelburne. Kitchen staff at Dufferin Oaks will prepare the meals, with supervision and activities provided by March of Dimes, which operates an assisted living centre within Dufferin Oaks.
Quarrie says the program has been approved for 15 seniors per week, 50 weeks a year. Depending on need, participants will vary week to week.

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