With COVID-19 mandates lifting, inclusion Powell River’s Gerry Gray Place for Older Adults is providing a welcoming space for seniors.
Stacy Mogan, manager of seniors services for inclusion Powell River, said Gerry Gray Place is a drop-in centre for seniors, offering a gathering space, plus programming.
The centre is open from 10 am to 3 pm weekdays for drop-ins with programming on Wednesdays at noon for lunches, plus there is chair yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Other programming will be added as activity at the centre progresses.
Mogan said seniors at the centre are typically those who are at least 65 years old.
While the official opening is scheduled for April 1, work on the centre has been going on since February 2021.
“We opened and closed a few times and we had renovations underway as well, but we reopened again about three weeks ago,” said Mogan.
Establishment and opening of the centre has been a natural progression for inclusion Powell River. Mogan said inclusion’s better at home program for seniors has run for about eight years and needs were identified as it moved along.
“With COVID-19, we realized social programming was super important for a lot of people who were isolated, so it has been a natural progression,” added Mogan. “We hear stories all the time about seniors who have no family in town, no friends, and loneliness is a huge factor. We’re open for coffee and if people are having a bad day or they’re lonely, they can drop in and have a visit. Often, there are other seniors here who they can connect with. If not, there’s staff here and we’ll always be available for a friendly visit with them.”
Lunches, in the short time since the centre reopened, are gaining in popularity. For the first lunch, eight people came out and for the latest, the number had grown to 17. Yoga has been well attended.
“The numbers are building and I have the schedule booked solid with intakes of people who want to join in,” said Mogan. “If people want to join, they contact us and I come out to their home and have a chat and do a bit of paperwork. I assess what their needs are and what they are interested in for programming and then they are welcome to join in.”
About 250 people have signed up for seniors programming. Mogan said it’s growing every week.
Fits vision
Corinna Curtis, incoming chief executive officer of inclusion Powell River, said it was clear there was a need in the community to help and support seniors who are experiencing isolation.
“It’s been talked about for quite some time, and the need for some sort of programming to facilitate that,” said Curtis. “That’s what we do at inclusion. We want to have everyone included in the community regardless of their age.
“It fits with our vision of building a community where everyone belongs.”
In terms of putting together Gerry Gray Place, Curtis said that inclusion facilities manager Louise Williams worked very closely with Mogan to design and create the environment.
“I think they did a fantastic job,” said Curtis.
Mogan said her vision for the facility is to be a one-stop shop.
“If we can’t help seniors with whatever they are needing, we know where to turn to get the resources they are needing,” she added. “We’re always looking for new opportunities we can add to help people out. We received funds for another program, seniors mentoring seniors, and that’s going to be another feather in the cap to help people.”
Curtis said seniors frequenting the centre have formed new friendships because it’s a place to come and meet and make friends.
“Seniors are connecting with seniors,” said Curtis. “Quite a few of our participants have actually asked to volunteer as well to match up with others for friendly visits.”
In addition to the face-to-face encounters, Gerry Gray Place is helping with seniors who are isolated because of illness or other circumstances. There is a freezer full of food and the centre can help provide a few meals to help them get back on their feet again.
Curtis said seniors can have lots of family in town but families are busy.
“Through no fault of anyone, people can be isolated and alone,” said Curtis. “This is somewhere for them to come and hang out, meet other people, make friends and connections. For those who want to move on to be volunteers, they can develop a sense of purpose and really contribute back to the community.”
Mogan said it’s great to know that a difference is being made in seniors’ lives.
Gerry Gray Place was named after one of the founders of what has become inclusion Powell River. Gerry Gray served as president of the organization for a number of years and was an early and longstanding advocate of inclusion in the qathet region.
